1989 Gissar earthquake

1989 Gissar earthquake
UTC time1989-01-22 23:02:07
ISC event416139
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateJanuary 23, 1989 (1989-01-23)
Local time05:02:07
Magnitude5.3 mb
Depth33 km (21 mi)
Epicenter38°28′N 68°41′E / 38.47°N 68.69°E / 38.47; 68.69
Areas affectedTajikistan
Total damage$24 million
Max. intensityMMI VII (Very strong)
Casualties274 dead
Many injured

The 1989 Gissar earthquake occurred at 23:02 UTC on 22 January near Gissar in Tajikistan. The shock had a body wave magnitude of 5.3 and a maximum felt intensity of VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The National Geophysical Data Center reported that the death toll from the event amounted to about 274, and the National Earthquake Information Center stated there were many injured. Nearly all the casualties were caused by mudslides which buried Sharora and two nearby villages. The earthquake was the deadliest in 1989.