Wednesday 11 September 2019

Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in northern Armenia.

The Seismic Protection Service of Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations recorded a magnitude 4.8 Earthquake at a depth of 10 km roughly 13 km to the northwest of the village of  Bavra in Shirak province in northern Armenia, slightly after 6.20 pm local time (slightly after 4.20 pm GMT) on Tuesday 10 September 2019. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, but schools in the province remained closed the next day while the integrity of their structure was checked.

The approximate location of the 10 September 2019 Shirak Province Earthquake. USGS.

Earthquakes are a common problem in Armenia, which is located on the southern part of the Eurasian Plate, close to the boundary with the Arabian and Anatolian Plates. The Arabian Plate is being pushed northwards by the movement of the African Plate further to the south, pushing the Anatolian Plate to the west, and creating stress in the rocks around the Caspian Sea Basin, and creating the uplift that has led to the formation of the Caucasus Mountains.

 The movement of the Arabian Plate into the Eurasian Plate from the south. El-Isa & Franke (2002).

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

See also...

https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/thermoactinomyces-spp-thermophilic.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2018/04/georgia-mine-accident-kills-six.html
https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2017/10/seven-workers-killed-at-unlicensed-coal.htmlhttp://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/09/one-person-dead-following-magnitude-54.html
https://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/06/three-killed-in-accident-at-unlicensed.htmlhttps://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/11/magnitude-40-earthquake-in-van-province.html
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