Iraqi meteorology agency records 46 earthquakes near Kirkuk over four days

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Meteorological and Seismic Monitoring Organization recorded 46 earthquakes near Kirkuk between July 30 and August 2, 2026, with magnitudes ranging from 1.1 to 4.9, according to a report issued by the agency. The seismic activity began at 00:51 local time on July 30 and continued for four days, concentrated in the eastern and southeastern parts of the province. A main shock of magnitude 4.5 was recorded on August 1, roughly 23 kilometers east of Kirkuk, preceded by 30 foreshocks and followed by 15 aftershocks, the report said. Officials said the tremors were felt in nearby residential areas and in parts of Kirkuk as well as in sections of the Kurdistan Region. The report placed the area within an active seismic zone at the northeastern edge of the Arabian Plate, where tectonic interaction between the Arabian and Eurasian plates runs along the Zagros and Makran mountain ranges. Agency records covering 1900 to 2026 show approximately 154 earthquakes in the region, with magnitudes between 1 and 5.2. The agency said its specialized personnel continue to monitor the activity through the earthquake network.