Deadly M5.7 earthquake hits southern Iran, numerous aftershocks

A shallow earthquake registered by the Iran Seismological Center as M5.7 hit near Masjed Soleyman, Iran at 07:00 UTC (11:30 LT) on July 8, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 17 km (10.5 miles). The USGS is reporting M5.7 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the same as EMSC.

The epicenter was located 28.9 km (17.9 miles) SE of Masjed Soleyman (population 111 510), 55.2 km (34.3 miles) N of Ramhormoz (population 38 821), and 72.4 km (45 miles) ESE of Shushtar (population 77 507), Khuzestan, Iran.

There are 2 310 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles) and 480 000 within 50 km (31 miles).

1 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 17 000 strong, 414 000 moderate and 2 504 000 light.

Image credit: Google, TW/SAM

The USGS issued a yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.

A green alert was issued for economic losses. There is a low likelihood of damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud and timber post construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Widespread damage was reported across southern Iran. Water supplies in some areas have been disrupted.

At least 1 person was killed and 24 others injured, local media reported.

Numerous aftershocks hit the region with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 – 4.7.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Multimedia

A video about #earthquake damage in #MasjedSoleyman in #Iran.
The money of the people of Iran, instead of being used to provide advanced technology to confront With natural disasters, is merely use for #nuclear weapon. pic.twitter.com/fL8zWPawwh

— عبدالصمد علي * مرصد الحرية (@abdolsamad_ali) July 8, 2019

According to US geological survey, Iranian province of Khuzestan was hit by an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude. The depth of the quake was found to be 10 kilometers.#Iran #earthquake #Khuzestan #depth #survey pic.twitter.com/6i1IGgt4y9

— The Emenent (@TEmenent) July 8, 2019

#Earthquake as big as 5.7 degree on Richter scale shakes city of Masjed-Soleiman, SW #Khouzestan province.
Fatalities so far: 1 dead (panic attack), dozens injured
Damage: 10-50% destruction of some old structures
No harm to local oil facilities#Iran pic.twitter.com/ETWFdznxzn

— Fereshteh Sadeghi فرشته صادقی (@fresh_sadegh) July 8, 2019

#Iran
July 8#Earthquake in SW #Khuzestan province
reports are saying 1 killed and 20 injured pic.twitter.com/bLyEHgYmxt

— mostafa.m (@MostafaMe4) July 8, 2019

Featured image credit: Google, TW/SAM