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Information message about a strong earthquake on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan on May 9, 2018.

A strong earthquake with M = 6.7 occurred on May 9, 2018 at 10:41 GMT (13:41 Moscow time) on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

Parameters of the earthquake have been determined in the Alert Service (AS) of Information Processing Center (IPC) of Geophysical Survey of RAS in Obninsk with station data obtained from digital and analog seismic stations of Russia, countries of CIS and from abroad. Alert message on this earthquake has been delivered in 10 min after registration to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM).

Preliminary processing has been done with data from 16 stations, accurate processing - with data from 59.

The red marker on the map indicates the epicenter of the earthquake, its focus was located on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, at a depth of 110 km, 81 km E-SE of Faizabad, Afghanistan, 179 km SE of Kulob, Tajikistan and 288 km SE of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

	Time in origin (GMT)	Latitude, degree	Longitude, degree	Depth, km	Stations number	Ms/N	mb/N	I0 (calculated)	GAP	Center
1	10:41:43.1	37.05	71.49	110.0	59		6.7/32	5.5-6	59	GS RAS(Verified) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
2	10:41:44.8	37.11	71.47	100.0	16		6.7/12	6-6.5		GS RAS(Preliminary) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
3	10:41:44.3	36.98	71.43	108.8	234	Mw 6.2			18	CSEM European - Mediterranean seismological center
4	10:41:45.7	36.99	71.37	111.9	158	Mw 6.2			19	NEIC National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
5	10:41:50.0	37.43	71.46	30.0			6.8			LTD "SEME" LTD "Seismological Experience Methodology Expedition" of JSC "National center for seismological observations and research»

Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Ala-Archa (∆ 6º), Makanchi Array Point Khabaz (∆ 12.6º), Kurchatov (∆ 14.6º), Borovoye (∆ 16º), Zalesovo (∆ 19.3º). Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Arti (∆ 21.3º), Nalchik (∆ 22.2º), Khabaz (∆ 22.7º), Belogornoye (∆ 22.7º), Kislovodsk (∆ 22.9º).

Image 1

Image 2

According to RIA-Novosti "the duty staff of the Geophysical Service of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan reported that in Dushanbe, the earthquake intensity was 4-5 MSK on a 12-point scale". According to GS RAS the earthquake was felt in Shymkent and Taraz with intensity 2-3 MSK. Fig. 1 was taken from USGS NEIC, it presents USGS Community Internet Intensity Map made by 245 responses in 62 cities.

Image 1

Click here to view detailed macroseismic data (DyfitWeb service)

The focal mechanism solution in stereographic projection on the lower hemisphere and its elements are presented in the table below. It was obtained in USGS NEIC with W-phase Moment Tensor (Mww) technique and in Lamont-Dohert Earth Observatory, Columbia University, USA (LDEO GCMT) with СМТ (Centroid moment tensor) technique. Solutions for different centers are close. The earthquake occurred under the prevailing action of compression stresses oriented to the north. One nodal plane NP1 strikes E-SE (STK=110-121º), another plane NP2 strikes W-SW (STK=233-247º). NP1 plane is more flat (DP=38-40º) in comparison with NP2 (DP=65º).The type of motion along NP1 – right latteral slipг with reverse fault components, for NP2 – reverse fault with left latteral slip components. According to USGS NEIC – Mo=2.796*10**18 N*m, Mw=6.2, according to LDEO GCMT – Mo=3.97*10**18 N*m, Mw=6.3.

Axes of main strengths			Nodal planes		Center
T	P	N	NP1	NP2	Center
PI: 59 Azm: 114	PI: 15 Azm: 358	PI: 27 Azm: 260	Stk: 121 Dp: 38 Slip: 137	Stk: 247 Dp: 65 Slip: 60	NEIC National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
PI: 57 Azm: 99	PI: 14 Azm: 346	PI: 29 Azm: 248	Stk: 110 Dp: 40 Slip: 139	Stk: 233 Dp: 65 Slip: 58	GCMT Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Global CMT Columbia University, USA