[3] Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia are located in an area of high seismic activity as both countries are situated in the collision zone between the Eurasian and Arabian plates.

The collision zone consists of an accreted island arc that collided after the closure of the Tethys Ocean, continental blocks, and sediments from the Mesozoic and Tertiary eras.

Extending 100–160 km (62–99 mi) beneath the Greater Caucasus is the remnant of a subducted tectonic plate after the ocean closed.

[10] Mkhitar Gosh, an Armenian scholar and writer, quoted Job 9:6 and Psalm 103:32 from the Holy Bible to describe the earthquake.

Parts of Kapaz Mount collapsed, and the resulting landslide blocked the Kürəkçay River, forming Lake Göygöl.

[16] The death toll figure remains controversial with some authors stating it is an exaggeration considering the population of the area at the time of the disaster.

Troops stole many artifacts and prized items from the city, including the Ancient Gates of Ganja, which were treated as a trophy.