7.2mw

1948 Ashgabat Earthquake

05.10.1948 20:12 UTC Depth 15 km 14 km N of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Sensitivity zones: strong — up to 75.7 km moderate — up to 189.3 km weak — up to 420.6 km

About this earthquake

A night-time earthquake almost completely destroyed the capital of Soviet Turkmenistan. By various estimates up to two-thirds of Ashgabat's population perished. The scale of the disaster was kept secret in the USSR for decades, leaving it one of the least-known great tragedies of the 20th century.

Sensitivity zones

Approximate radii, derived from magnitude and hypocentre depth, within which shaking is typically felt:

  • strong — up to 75.7 km
  • moderate — up to 189.3 km
  • weak — up to 420.6 km

"I felt it" reports

No reports yet. Did you feel this one? Be the first to tell!

Earthquakes nearby