You are here: Home » Earthquake Center » Historic Earthquakes » Magnitude 6.4 - EASTERN XIZANG

Magnitude 6.4 - EASTERN XIZANG

2008 October 06 08:30:45 UTC

Versión en Español

Earthquake Details

Magnitude6.4
Date-Time
Location29.761°N, 90.320°E
Depth12 km (7.5 miles) set by location program
RegionEASTERN XIZANG
Distances75 km (45 miles) WNW of Lhasa, Xizang (Tibet)
155 km (95 miles) ENE of Xigaze, Xizang (Tibet)
265 km (165 miles) NNE of THIMPHU, Bhutan
2625 km (1630 miles) WSW of BEIJING, Beijing, China
Location Uncertaintyhorizontal +/- 4.9 km (3.0 miles); depth fixed by location program
ParametersNST=195, Nph=195, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=1.03 sec, Gp= 36°,
M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=R
Source
  • USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event IDus2008xva9
  • This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
  • Did you feel it? Report shaking and damage at your location. You can also view a map displaying accumulated data from your report and others.

Earthquake Summary

Small globe showing earthquakeSmall map showing earthquake

Felt Reports

Nine people killed and at least 19 injured. Many houses in Damxung collapsed. Felt (IV) at Lhasa. Also felt at Thimphu, Bhutan.

Tectonic Summary

The eastern Xizang earthquake of October 6, 2008 occurred as a result of normal faulting in the Tibetan Plateau. The style of faulting is inferred from the characteristics of seismic waves radiated by the earthquake source. The faulting that caused the earthquake is a consequence of predominantly east-west oriented extensional stress that ultimately arises from the convergence of the India plate northwards with respect to the Eurasia plate at a rate of over 40 mm/yr. This convergence drives the uplift of the Himalaya Mountains and Tibetan Plateau and produces generally north-south compressional stresses on the north and south margins of the plateau. The plateau interior is spreading to the east and, as a result, is an area of east-west extension within the larger region of north-south compression. The epicentral region of the 2008 earthquake previously experienced a magnitude 6.1 normal faulting earthquake on July 30, 1992

Earthquake Information for Asia