1641 Tabriz earthquake

Last updated
1641 Tabriz earthquake
Iran relief location map.jpg
Bullseye1.png
Local dateFebruary 5, 1641 (1641-02-05)
Magnitude6.8 Ms
Epicenter 37°54′N46°06′E / 37.9°N 46.1°E / 37.9; 46.1 [1]
Areas affected Iran, Tabriz
Max. intensity IX (Violent) [2]
Casualties12,613–30,000 dead [1] [2]

The 1641 Tabriz earthquake occurred on the night of February 5 in present-day East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The earthquake had an estimated surface-wave magnitude of 6.8 and an epicenter between Lake Urmia and the city of Tabriz. It was one of the most destructive earthquakes in the region, resulting in the loss of up to 30,000 lives. [2]

Contents

A sketch of the ruins of the Arg of Tabriz dated 1673. Arg of Tabriz, 1673.png
A sketch of the ruins of the Arg of Tabriz dated 1673.

Tectonic setting

Iran is situated on an active convergent boundary zone where the Arabian and Eurasian plates collide. The convergence occurs along the Zagros Mountains where it is accommodated by an active fold and thrust belt. The convergence is also accommodated within central Iran by strike-slip faults. At Tabriz, the rate of convergence is estimated to be about 20 mm/yr. The city is located near a triple junction of the Arabian, Anatolian and Eurasian plates. The oblique convergence results in continental collision beneath the Caucasus and right-lateral strike-slip tectonics around Tabriz. One of the most prominent fault is the North Tabriz Fault, a WNW–ESE-trending, 100 km (62 mi) fault. The fault produced devastating earthquakes in 1721, 1780, and 1786. [3]

Earthquake

The Ms  6.8 earthquake ruptured a fault structure located south of the North Tabriz Fault. [4] The North Tabriz Fault itself did not rupture during the quake. The plausible location of the earthquake is along the Dehkhargan Fault, a 20 km (12 mi) left-lateral fault. [5] Normal fault features are a common occurrence in the earthquake area. [4] It strikes NE–SW between the cities of Osku and Azarshahr. The fault is located at the western base of Sahand, a volcano, where a measured offset of 200 m (660 ft) was recorded. [5]

Damage

Researchers Nicholas Ambraseys and Charles P. Melville reported that the earthquake occurred on a Friday night. [6] [2] The communities of Khosrowshah, Osku and what is now present-day Azarshahr were completely devastated. Nearly all houses and public infrastructures, including historical monuments in Tabriz were razed to the ground. Many public baths and caravansaries were destroyed. A building in the city collapsed and buried many animals that were taking shelter from the winter season. Two important structures, the Masjid-i Ustad-Shagird and Arg of Tabriz suffered heavy damage. A large number of mosques experienced serious damage to their domes and minarets. The shock was also felt in Baghdad. [2] On Sahand, a rockslide was triggered, destroying a village and killing many. Fissures appeared in the ground and erupted water. The earthquake was misdated to the years 1441, 1049, 1639, 1642, 1646, and 1651. Efforts to recover personal belongings and the dead continued for a month. Aftershocks were felt for six months. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, many survivors resided outside the ruins of their homes. Some residents returned to their homes but were killed due to collapses during the aftershocks. [7] During the first two months after the earthquake, up to seven aftershocks were felt in a day. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes occurred in Dashte Bayaz, Kakhk and Ferdows, Iran in late August and early September 1968. The mainshock measured 7.4 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Damage was heavy in the affected areas with thousands of lives lost in the first event and many hundreds more in the second strong event.

The 1909 Borujerd earthquake also known as Silakhor earthquake occurred in Silakhor plain, Persia on January 23. Around 8,000 fatalities were caused directly from the magnitude 7.3 earthquake. An indefinite number of aftershocks continued for six months after the main shock. The section on this fault ruptured was the same as the main rupture zone of the 2006 Borujerd earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">856 Damghan earthquake</span> Earthquake in Iran

The 856 Damghan earthquake or the 856 Qumis earthquake occurred on 22 December 856. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.9, and a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The meizoseismal area extended for about 350 kilometres (220 mi) along the southern edge of the eastern Alborz mountains of present-day Iran including parts of Tabaristan and Gorgan. The earthquake's epicenter is estimated to be close to the city of Damghan, which was then the capital of the Persian province of Qumis. It caused approximately 200,000 deaths and is listed by the USGS as the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history. This death toll has been debated.

The 1727 Tabriz earthquake occurred on 18 November with an epicenter near Tabriz in northwest Iran. The maximum felt intensity was VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and there were an estimated 77,000 deaths. The only record for this earthquake comes from an account written in 1821 and it is very likely that the information for this earthquake refers instead to the 1721 Tabriz earthquake.

The 1893 Quchan earthquake occurred at about 19:30 local time on 17 November. It had an estimated magnitude of 6.6 on the surface wave magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It caused severe damage in Quchan County, particularly to the town of Quchan itself and there were an estimated 18,000 casualties.

An earthquake occurred in the northern Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey on May 24, 2014. It had a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Serious damage was reported on the Turkish island of Imbros and the cities of Edirne and Çanakkale, as well as on the Greek island of Lemnos. The earthquake was felt in Bulgaria and southern Romania. Several aftershocks followed the main shock, the strongest measuring 5.3 ML. This aftershock struck the Gulf of Saros at 12:31 local time.

The 1780 Tabriz earthquake occurred at 01:15 local time on 8 January. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.4 and a maximum felt intensity of IX on the Mercalli intensity scale. The city of Tabriz was almost completely destroyed. The number of reported casualties varies from 40,000 to as many as 200,000, with 50,000 being a more likely estimate.

The Fars region of Iran was struck by a major earthquake on either 22 April or 5 May 1853. The city of Shiraz and the surrounding area were severely affected, with almost all buildings destroyed. At least 9,000 people were killed, with some estimates reaching 13,000.

The city of Kashan in Iran was struck by a major earthquake just before dawn on 15 December 1778. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 6.2 Ms. There was widespread damage in the area around the city, with most buildings destroyed. More than 8,000 people were killed.

The 1872 Amik (Antakya) earthquake occurred on April 3 with an epicenter within the Amik Valley in the Ottoman Empire. Earthquake had an estimated magnitude of Mw  7.0–7.2 or Ms  7.2 and maximum MSK 64 rating of XI (Catastrophic). Turkey and Syria were devastated by this earthquake, and the region lost at least 1,800 residents.

The 1997 Bojnurd earthquake occurred on 4 February at 14:07 IRST in Iran. The epicenter of the Mw 6.5 earthquake was in the Kopet Dag mountains of North Khorasan, near the Iran–Turkmenistan border, about 579 km (360 mi) northeast of Tehran. The earthquake is characterized by shallow strike-slip faulting in a zone of active faults. Seismic activity is present as the Kopet Dag is actively accommodating tectonics through faulting. The earthquake left 88 dead, 1,948 injured, and affected 173 villages, including four which were destroyed. Damage also occurred in Shirvan and Bojnord counties. The total cost of damage was estimated to be over US$ 30 million.

The 2019 East Azerbaijan earthquake occurred at 03:17 local-time on November 8, 2019. This earthquake had a moment magnitude of 5.9 and had a shallow depth of 20 km.

The region of Ningxia was struck by a major earthquake on the morning of 14 October 1709. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 Ms and a maximum felt intensity of X (extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. The city of Zhongwei was badly damaged, including a section of the Great Wall. A total of 2,032 people were killed.

The 1858 Prome earthquake occurred on August 24 at 15:38 local time in British Burma. The earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 7.6–8.3 on the moment magnitude scale. It had an epicenter in near the city of Pyay (Prome), Bago. The shock was felt with a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme) for about one minute. Severe damage was reported in Bago, and off the coast of Rakhine, an island sunk.

The 1979 Yapen earthquake occurred on September 12 at 05:17:51 UTC. It had an epicenter near the coast of Yapen Island in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Measuring 7.5 on the moment magnitude scale and having a depth of 20 km (12 mi), it caused severe damage on the island. At least 115 were killed due to shaking and a moderate tsunami.

The 1977 Bob–Tangol earthquake struck Kerman province of Iran on December 20, 1977 at 03:04 Iran Standard Time. The earthquake measured Mw 5.9 and struck at a depth of 22.7 km (14.1 mi). A maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VII was evaluated based on damage. It had a strike-slip focal mechanism, which was unusual as the source structure was a thrust fault. It was part of a sequence of strong earthquakes along the 400 km (250 mi) Kuh Banan Fault. Between 584 and 665 people perished while a further 500–1,000 were injured; thousands were also made homeless. Casualties from the earthquake was considered moderate due to the sparsely populated area it affected. Preceded by foreshocks the month before, many residents became wary of a larger earthquake and took refuge outside their homes, contributing to the moderate death toll. However, there were none immediately before the mainshock so many were still in their homes when it struck. Aftershocks were felt for several months, some causing additional damage.

The 1977 Naghan earthquake struck Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in Iran on April 6 at 13:36 UTC. The earthquake measuring 6.0 Mw  occurred at a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi) and had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). More than 2,100 homes were destroyed and at least 348 people were killed.

The 1957 Sangchal earthquake struck northern Iran's Mazandaran province on 2 July 1957. It had a moment magnitude of 6.6 or 7.1 (Mw ), focal depth of 15 km (9.3 mi), and maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). It devastated many communities in the Alborz Mountains and caused an estimated 1,500 fatalities. Damage was estimated at US$25 million.

The 1755 Meknes earthquake affected Morocco on 27 November 1755. The earthquake had a moment magnitude (Mw ) estimated at between 6.5 and 7.0. It devastated the cities of Fes and Meknes—killing at least 15,000 people in both cities.

The 1957 Farsinaj earthquake struck Hamadan, Iran on 13 December at 05:15 local time. The moment magnitude 6.5 earthquake destroyed 211 villages, killed approximately 1,130 people, and left another 900 injured.

References

  1. 1 2 Utsu, T. R. (2002), "A List of Deadly Earthquakes in the World: 1500–2000", International Handbook of Earthquake & Engineering Seismology, Part A, Volume 81A (First ed.), Academic Press, p. 708, ISBN   978-0124406520
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (1972). "Significant Earthquake Information". doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K . Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Moradi, Ali Siahkali; Hatzfeld, Denis; Tatar, Mohammad (2011). "Microseismicity and seismotectonics of the North Tabriz fault (Iran)". Tectonophysics . Elsevier. 506 (1–4): 22–30. Bibcode:2011Tectp.506...22M. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2011.04.008.
  4. 1 2 Rahimzadeh, Saeid; Moshasha, Yasamin; Mirzaei, Noorbakhsh (2020). "Surface deformations attributed to the Dehkhwarghan-Tabriz earthquake fault zone" (PDF). 19th Iranian Geophysical Conference–November: 124–128.
  5. 1 2 Faridi, Mohammad; Burg, Jean-Pierre; Nazari, Hamid; Talebian, M. (2017). "Active faults pattern and interplay in the Azerbaijan region (NW Iran)". Geotectonics. 51 (4): 428–437. Bibcode:2017Geote..51..428F. doi:10.1134/S0016852117040033. S2CID   134404085.
  6. ↑ Ambraseys N.N.; Melville C.P. (2005). A History of Persian Earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. pp. 49–51, 160. ISBN   9780521021876.
  7. ↑ Berberian, Manuel; Arshadi, S. "On the evidence of the youngest activity of the North Tabriz Fault and the seismicity of Tabriz City". Geological Survey of Iran. 39: 397–418. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.467.2852 . Archived from the original on 8 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Melville, Charles (1981). "Historical Monuments and Earthquakes in Tabriz". Iran. Taylor & Francis. 19: 159–177. doi:10.2307/4299714. JSTOR   4299714.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.