  | |
| Local date | 22 March 1879 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | Ms 6.7 |
| Epicenter | 37°48′N47°54′E / 37.8°N 47.9°E [1] |
| Areas affected | East Azerbaijan province, Iran |
| Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) |
| Casualties | >2,000 fatalities |
The 1879 Bozqush earthquake affected northern Iran in present-day East Azerbaijan province on 22 March. With an estimated surface-wave magnitude of 6.7, the shock killed more than 2,000 people and thousands of livestock. Damage was the greatest along Mount Bozgush.
A foreshock was felt several minutes before the mainshock. [2] Based on the northeast–southwest trending meizoseismal area, neither the nearby Germirud Fault or South Bozqush Fault Zone were responsible for the earthquake; these faults trend approximately north–south and east-northeast-west-southwest. These faults had evidence of recent activity. However, a 2 km (1.2 mi) segment of an approximately north–south trending, southwest-dipping reverse fault was discovered north of the village of Sarighamish, which was situated in the area of maximum damage. The Miocene silicified alunite hanging wall in the southwestern overthrusts alluvial deposits of the Quaternary. This exposed section of fault may be part of the Germirud Fault; a 60 km (37 mi) structure with a similar strike. Seismic activity progressed eastwards when another Ms 6.7 earthquake ruptured along the nearby Sangavar Fault in 1896. [3] There remains an uncertainty about the association with the exposed fault and earthquake. The aftershock sequence continued for about six months, and some of these events were destructive. [2]
More than 2,000 people died and another 4,000 lifestock were lost. The earthquake levelled 20 villages and ruined another 54. In Tark, the minarets collapsed from a recently constructed mosque that was destroyed in 1844. Collapsed homes in Miyaneh and Ardabil were responsible for several fatalities. Villages along the southeastern flanks of Mount Bozgush were razed and nearly all their residents perished; at least two affeccted villages had populations of 500 and 600, respectively. Destructive landslides, with hundreds dead, occurred in Dizaj, Tark, Yangijeh. Significantly high number of deaths were also reported in Mianeh; several well-constructed homes were destroyed and large gashes appeared in the walls of others. [1]
An earthquake occurred on November 27, 2005, at 13:52 IRST on the sparsely populated Qeshm Island off Southern Iran, killing 13 people and devastating 13 villages. It was Iran's second major earthquake of 2005, following the one at Zarand in February. The epicenter was about 1,500 kilometers (930 mi) south of Tehran, close to Iran's southern borders. Initial measurements showed that the earthquake registered about 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale, although that was reduced to 5.8 after further analysis. More than 400 minor aftershocks followed the main quake, 36 of which were greater than magnitude 2.5. The earthquake occurred in a remote area during the middle of the day, limiting the number of fatalities. Iranian relief efforts were effective and largely adequate, leading the country to decline offers of support from other nations and UNICEF.
The 1930 Salmas earthquake occurred on 7 May at 01:34:26 IRST in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. The earthquake, which was among Iran's largest, measured 7.1 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). A damaging foreshock occurred fifteen hours prior to the main event and served as a warning to the people that felt it strongly. Reports from seismologists and seismological organizations indicate that up to 3,000 fatalities may have occurred in northwest Iran and southeast Turkey.
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.
A major earthquake occurred during the rule of the Qing dynasty in Shandong Province on July 25, 1668. It had an estimated magnitude of Ms 8.5, making it the largest historical earthquake in East China, and one of the largest to occur on land. An estimated 43,000 to 50,000 people were killed, and its effects were widely felt. Its epicenter may have been located between Ju and Tancheng counties, northeast of the prefecture-level city of Linyi in southern Shandong.
The western coast of West Sulawesi was struck by a major earthquake on 23 February 1969 at 00:36 UTC. It had a magnitude of 7.0 Mw and a maximum felt intensity of VIII on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a major tsunami that caused significant damage along the coast of the Makassar Strait. At least 64 people were killed, with possibly a further 600 deaths caused by the tsunami.
The 1889 Chilik earthquake occurred on July 11 on the Gregorian calendar, or June 30 on the Julian calendar at 15:14 local time in the Tien Shan mountains. The earthquake measured an estimated Mw 7.9–8.0 on the moment magnitude scale and was assigned a maximum intensity of X (Devastating) on the MSK 64 and Rossi-Forel scales. At least 92 people across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China were killed.
Western Henan and southern Shanxi in northern China were struck by an earthquake of estimated magnitude Ms6.8 on 23 October 1815. The epicentre was in Pinglu County in southernmost Shanxi, which was the worse affected area. It had a maximum felt intensity of IX (violent) on the Modified Mercalli scale. It caused the collapse of many houses and cave dwellings and led to the deaths of at least 13,000 people.
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 2003 Dayao earthquake occurred on July 21, at 23:16:33 CST. The epicenter of the moment magnitude 5.9 earthquake was in Dayao County in the mountainous area of central Yunnan, China. At least 19 people were killed, 644 were injured, and 8,406 families became homeless. The quake also caused $75 million USD in damage.
The 1641 Tabriz earthquake occurred on the night of 5 February 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.
The 1867 Keelung earthquake occurred off the northern coast of Taiwan on the morning of December 18 with a magnitude of 7.0. It produced strong shaking that seriously damaged the cities of Keelung and Taipei. A tsunami, thought to be the only confirmed destructive of its kind in Taiwan, drowned hundreds and had a run-up exceeding 15 m (49 ft). The total death toll was estimated to be 580 while more than 100 were injured. It was followed by aftershocks that were felt on average ten times a day.
The 1977 Khurgu earthquake struck southern Iran near Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province on the morning of March 22. The earthquake measuring moment magnitude (Mw ) 6.7 struck at a depth of 12.5 km (7.8 mi). Thirty five villages were heavily damaged including over 20 which were destroyed. There were 152–167 people killed and 556 injured.
The 1957 Alborz earthquake struck northern Iran's Mazandaran province at 04:12 local time on 2 July. It had a moment magnitude (Mw ) of 7.1 and occurred at a focal depth of 15 km (9.3 mi). The thrust-faulting shock was assigned a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). It devastated 120 villages in the Alborz Mountains and caused an estimated 1,500 fatalities. The earthquake also triggered landslides including one that dammed the Haraz River. Some damage was also reported in Tehran, Qaem Shahr and Sari.
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 earthquake struck less than a month after another earthquake that devastated Morocco and Lisbon on 1 November. Previously regarded as an aftershock, this earthquake likely represented rupture of a separate fault due to changes in tectonic stress following their first event.
The 1957 Farsinaj earthquake struck Hamadan province, Iran on 13 December at 05:15 local time. The moment magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck at a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi). The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the seismically active Zagros Mountains. The mountain range was also the location for several historic earthquakes. The earthquake occurred near two segments of the active strike-slip Main Recent Fault. At least 1,130 people died, including over 700 in the village of Farsinaj. Additional deaths also occurred in Dehasiyab, Sarab, and other villages. The earthquake left an estimated 15,000 homeless; poor weather conditions including a winter storm on 21 December killed another 20 people. Several deadly and damaging aftershocks in that month killed a total of 38 people.
The 1947 Dustabad earthquake, also known as the Charmeh earthquake, occurred in South Khorasan province of northeastern Iran on 23 September. The mainshock had a magnitude of Mw 6.9 and maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). It was accompanied by a Mw 6.1 aftershock on 26 September. These earthquakes killed an estimated 500 people.
The 1958 Firuzabad earthquake affected Hamadan province, Iran, on 16 August at 22:43 local time. The Mw 6.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi), nine months after another severe earthquake struck the same area. It caused severe damage to over 170 villages in the province. Because of several strong foreshocks, most of the population had fled their homes: the death toll thus only reached 132, with 948 injured. A destructive aftershock on 21 September killed another 16 people.
The 1871–72 Quchan earthquakes which affected present-day Razavi Khorasan province occurred less than a month apart. The first earthquake, measuring Mw 7.1, occurred on 23 December 1871, was followed by a Mw 7.0 earthquake in the same area on 6 January 1872. Altogether, these earthquakes killed at least 6,000 people in the Quchan area.