On February 23, 2023, at 00:37:41.0 UTC, an earthquake with a magnitude of Mw 6.8 occurred in Tajikistan. The earthquake's epicenter was located at 38.10 N and 73.22 E, with a depth of 20 km.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake's epicenter was situated 66 km west-southwest of Murghob, Tajikistan, a town with a population of 10,800. The earthquake was also located 272 km south-southeast of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, a city with a population of 200,000.
The earthquake was felt in both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and there were reports of shaking felt as far away as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. No immediate casualties or damage have been reported as a result of the earthquake.
Tajikistan is located in a seismically active region, and earthquakes are common. The last significant earthquake to strike Tajikistan was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 2015, which caused widespread damage and claimed the lives of over 200 people.
The earthquake of Mw 6.8 that occurred in Tajikistan on February 23, 2023, serves as a reminder of the ongoing seismic activity in the region and the importance of earthquake preparedness and response measures.