According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake hit on Tuesday, March 21st, 2023, at 8:47 pm local time at an intermediate to considerable depth of 187.6 km. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.
A second report was later issued by Geoscience Australia (GeoAu), which listed it as a magnitude 6.5 earthquake as well. Other agencies reporting the same quake include the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) at magnitude 6.5, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) at magnitude 6.6, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) at magnitude 6.7, and the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake at magnitude 6.6.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.
In Jurm (pop. 12,100) located 40 km from the epicenter, Ashkāsham (pop. 12,100) 53 km away, Ishqoshim (pop. 26,000) 61 km away, Faizabad (pop. 44,400) 75 km away, and Taloqan (pop. 64,300) 131 km away, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.