An aftershock is a seismic event that follows a larger mainshock in the same general region and results from the continued adjustment of the crust to the stress changes induced by the main rupture. Aftershocks typically occur on or near the mainshock fault or on nearby faults perturbed by the stress redistribution. They exhibit characteristic temporal decay in frequency and magnitude, commonly described by Omori-type laws, and spatial clustering around the mainshock rupture zone. Aftershock sequences provide critical information on fault properties, stress transfer, and ongoing deformation, and are central to short-term seismic hazard assessment following major earthquakes.
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