7 earthquakes were recorded in Iraq last month

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Transport, General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring, Seismic Monitoring Department, announced today, Saturday, that 7 earthquakes were recorded in Iraq last December.

Director of the Seismic Monitoring Department, Samira Reda Khalaf, said in a statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “The General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring issued the seismic bulletin in Iraq and the surrounding areas for the month of December 2023, and the total number of earthquakes recorded for this month was (20) earthquakes, including (7) earthquakes inside Iraq, (5) earthquakes inside Iran, and (8) earthquakes in Turkey,” indicating that the strength of the seismic events ranged between (2.1-4.3) degrees on the Richter scale, while Its focal depths ranged between (6-25) km.”.

She continued, “The activity was clearly concentrated inside Iraq, in each of Nineveh Governorate (Al-Sheikhan District), as two earthquakes were recorded, two earthquakes in Dohuk (Amadiyah), and one earthquake in each of the governorates.” Sulaymaniyah (Chamchamal District), Diyala (Baladruz District), and Maysan (Ali Al-Gharbi District), while five earthquakes were recorded inside Iran, and near our borders with it in the provinces of Ilam and Kermanshah, and in Turkey, eight earthquakes were recorded near our borders with it . 

“The western and southwestern regions of Iraq are devoid of any seismic activity, and this explains the nature of the movement of the Arabian Plate and Iraq’s location on it, in the northeastern part, and the increase in seismic activity towards the areas of continental collision, specifically towards the north and northeast of Iraq.”