An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale hit Iran’s northeastern city of Kashmar, leading to tragic consequences with four reported deaths and 120 individuals injured. The quake struck at 1:24 pm local time, as confirmed by Kashmar’s governor, Hajatollah Shariatmadari, who provided the casualty count on state television.
According to the governor, 35 people have been hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the earthquake. The impact of the quake was particularly severe on older buildings in both urban and rural areas of Kashmar, with many structures collapsing or suffering significant damage.
Footage aired on state television showed the aftermath of the earthquake, depicting scenes of destruction with buildings reduced to rubble. First responders were seen working diligently in the affected areas to provide assistance and support to those affected by the disaster.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (approximately six miles). Iran, situated on multiple tectonic plates, is a region prone to seismic activity, experiencing frequent earthquakes of varying magnitudes.
This recent earthquake in Kashmar brings back memories of past seismic events in Iran, including a 5.9 magnitude quake last year that claimed three lives and injured over 800 people in the country’s northwest near the border with Turkey. One of Iran’s most devastating earthquakes occurred in 2003, when a 6.6 magnitude quake struck the southeastern city of Bam, claiming the lives of over 31,000 people in one of the world’s deadliest disasters.
The impact of such natural disasters highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Iran in managing seismic risks and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens in vulnerable regions prone to earthquakes.
Sources By Agencies
