The United States Geological Survey
reported a Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake at a depth of 10.0 km about 7 km southwest of Gedzhukh in the Republic of Dagestan in southern Russia, at about 4.05 am local time (about 1.05 am GMT) on Saturday 2 January 2021.
There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this
event, but it was felt locally.
Earthquakes are a common problem in Dagastan, 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).
See also...