2000 Turkmenistan earthquake
UTC+5) | |
| Magnitude | Mw 7.0 Ms 7.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 30 km (19 mi)[1] |
| Epicenter | 39°29′N 54°49′E / 39.48°N 54.82°E[1] |
| Type | Oblique-slip[2] |
| Areas affected | Balkan Region, Turkmenistan and Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Max. intensity | MMI VII (Very strong)[3] |
| Aftershocks | 6 ≥Mw 4.0 (as of 10/12/2000) |
| Casualties | 11 fatalities, "dozens" injured |
A Mw 7.0 earthquake struck Balkan Region, Turkmenistan on 6 December 2000, at 17:11:08 UTC (22:11 TMT). The epicentre was located near the Balkan Mountains in the west of the country.[3]
Tectonic setting
Turkmenistan lies at the northern edge of the zone of complex tectonics caused by the continuing
Earthquake
The focal mechanism for this event indicates that it was the result of oblique reverse faulting on one of two possible faults, either northwest–southeast or west–east trending.[3] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Seismological Centre (ISC) put the magnitude of the earthquake at Mw 7.0,[1][3] while the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) measured the event at ML 7.4[5] and the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics (SECED) said that the earthquake had a magnitude of Ms 7.5.[6] The maximum shaking intensity of VII (Very Strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale was observed in Balkanabat and Türkmenbaşy, with intensity V (Moderate) tremors felt at Gyzylarbat, as well as in Nukus, Uzbekistan and Baku, Azerbaijan; shaking was also felt throughout parts of Russia, including Moscow, as well as in Armenia and northern Iran.[3] By 10 December, six aftershocks above Mw 4.0 were detected by the USGS.[7]
Impact
Chinese state television reported 11 deaths and five injuries, while Russian news site Gazeta.Ru said that four deaths and eight injuries occurred in Balkanabat, citing local residents.[8] Dozens of people were injured[6] and many were hospitalized due to stress and panic induced by the tremors, and numerous buildings suffered minor damage.[9] Several buildings reportedly collapsed in Ashgabat. In Baku, Azerbaijan, many people fled their homes in panic.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c ISC (2015), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 2.0, International Seismological Centre
- ^ PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey, 4 September 2009
- ^ a b c d e ANSS. "M 7.0 - 37 km E of Balkanabat, Turkmenistan 2000". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
- ^ Van Dijk, J.; Ajayi, A.T.; Eid, T.; Eldali, M.; Ellen, H.; Guney, H.; Hashem, M.; Knispel, R.; Rouis, L.; Santoni, S. (2018). "An integrated Geological Model for the Greater Cheleken Area, Central Caspian Basin, Turkmenistan; Complez Synsedimentary Transcurrent Faulting and compartmentalization in Plio-Pleistocene Calstic Reservoirs". Society of Petroleum Engineers. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Fresh tremors felt after strong Turkmen earthquake". Reuters. 7 December 2000. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b Galloway, David; Walker, Alice (April 2001). A Summary of Earthquakes in 2000 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 15. Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "USGS earthquake catalog". United States Geological Survey.
- ^ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (7 December 2000). "Turkmenistan: Earthquake Causes Heavy Damage". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ OCHA (8 December 2000). "Turkmenistan - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 1". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Türkmenistan'da 8 büyüklüğünde deprem". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 7 December 2000. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
External links
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
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