What the record shows for Kazakhstan
The strongest earthquake on record near Kazakhstan is a magnitude 6.4 in 1937, centred 54 km SE of Zhabagly, Kazakhstan - 89 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 32 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 722 km of Kazakhstan - roughly 2 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 722 km of Kazakhstan in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Southeastern Kazakhstan, near the Tien Shan mountains, is seismically active and has experienced strong historical earthquakes.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Kazakhstan.
Earthquake risk in Kazakhstan - FAQ
Is Kazakhstan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 2 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 722 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.4 in 1937.
What was the biggest earthquake in Kazakhstan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Kazakhstan is M6.4, in 1937 (54 km SE of Zhabagly, Kazakhstan), from USGS.
Does Kazakhstan get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 722 km of Kazakhstan in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Kazakhstan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.