The 11th march, 2013 earthquake in north of Mosul vicinity, north Iraq

Abstract EN

Iraq is located in the northeastern corner of the Arabian Plate, which is in collision with the Iranian (Eurasian) Plate.

The contact between the two plates exhibits active seismicity forming active Zagros Seismic Belt.

Mosul city and surroundings, although being far enough from this active seismic belt, still suffer from many earthquakes, which can be felt in a diameter of about 100 Km, the center being in Mosul city.

On the 11th of March 2013, at 5:58 pm, Monday a shock was felt in Mosul city and its surroundings to the northeast, north and northwest.

The shock lasted for 5 seconds and was registered in Mosul Seismological Center with magnitude of 4.9 degrees on Richter scale.

Two other shocks were recorded after few days.

People in the villages located north of Mosul have heard high roaring, which accompanied the shock.

Many old buildings, among them the church of Tell Asquf village was cracked and the plaster of the church's dome fell down in fragments.

Many other mud huts and some buildings showed severe cracks in many other villages.

No rupturing on the Earth's surface was reported in the involved areas.

No live causalities and/ or wounded people were reported.

In this study, the historic seismicity of Mosul and near surroundings is reviewed.

Few events, including historical earthquakes are mentioned too.

Details of the present earthquake are given with documentary photographs.

The effect of a reverse fault is thought to be the most reliable source for the shocks.

Moreover, a fourth earthquake hit the northern part of the area; this was not recorded seismologically, therefore, field data were used to estimate the magnitude, using special charts, which indicate the estimated magnitude.