A shallow earthquake struck early Sunday about 26 kilometers (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Iran’s Kermanshah province. Local media reported that at least two people were killed and 310 were injured. The mountainous area near the border with Iraq was also the site of a powerful tremor that killed more than 600 people last November.
What we know so far:
- The quake was originally reported to be 6.2, but it was later downgraded to a 6.0 magnitude earthquake.
- The quake struck at 2:43 a.m. local time (2213 UTC) at a depth of about 10 kilometers, the USGS said.
- Dozens of aftershocks have followed, including two that were stronger than M4.0.
- Rescue teams were sent to the city of Tazehabad, where most of the casualties were reported.
- The two dead are a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.
- Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand said at least 500 buildings were destroyed.
- Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli is expected to travel to the affected area on Monday.
- Iraqi state television said the jolt was felt as far away as Baghdad, some 350 kilometers further west.
The Iraq-Iran border region sees frequent seismic activity due to the 1,500 kilometer fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Much of the area affected by Sunday’s quake is rugged mountain terrain populated by farmers and hillside villages of earthen brick buildings. Iran has suffered a number of devastating jolts in recent years. In November 2017, a 7.3 magnitude quake killed at least 620 people and injured thousands. In 2003, some 31,000 people were killed by a catastrophic tremor that struck the southeastern city of Bam.
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USGS – M 6.0 – 26km SW of Javanrud, Iran
DW – Iran earthquake injures hundreds, fatalities reported
Express – Huge 6.1 earthquake hits Iran and Iraq
[…] Strong M6.0 earthquake hits Iran killing 2 and injuring hundreds […]