M 5.5 in Afghanistan on 16 Jan 2021 20:02 UTC

Hazard models

EQ parameters
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 5.5M
Depth: 191.67 Km
Lat/Lon: 36.529 , 70.738
Event Date: 16 Jan 2021 20:02 UTC
17 Jan 2021 00:32 Local
Exposed Population: 1070000 people within 100km
Source: NEIC us7000d0pq
Inserted at: 16 Jan 2021 20:22 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score: 7.5 (Afghanistan)
INFORM Coping capacity of the affected contries: Afghanistan= 7.5; Pakistan= 5.7; Tajikistan= 5.1

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)		 GDACS score
NEIC 0.5 0.5
us7000d0pq Scaled population (raster) 0  
  C1 shakemap -0.59  
  C2 shakemap 0.53  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 1.29  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1353283 0.5 16 Jan 2021 20:02 5.5M, 191.67km 4.27 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 00:20 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Afghanistan ,of Badakhshan (population 23,533) . The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity Population
no people


Shakemaps Timeline

AlertShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 0.5 1353283 36.529/70.738 5.5 191.7 4.272 17 Jan 2021 20:07 1d 00:04 (new episode)

Affected Provinces

Intensity Region Province Country Population
Badakhshan Afghanistan 24000 people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Intensity Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Kalan Elga Badakhshan Afghanistan Village - 94 km

see full list


Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.