What the record shows for Kyrgyzstan
The strongest earthquake on record near Kyrgyzstan is a magnitude 8.0 in 1911, centred The 1911 Kemin Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan - 115 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 780 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Kyrgyzstan - roughly 39 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 300 km of Kyrgyzstan 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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Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan mountains are uplifted by ongoing tectonic compression, producing frequent 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 Kyrgyzstan.
Earthquake risk in Kyrgyzstan - FAQ
Is Kyrgyzstan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 39 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.0 in 1911.
What was the biggest earthquake in Kyrgyzstan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Kyrgyzstan is M8.0, in 1911 (The 1911 Kemin Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan), from USGS.
Does Kyrgyzstan get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Kyrgyzstan in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Kyrgyzstan?
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.