Strong and shallow M5.9 earthquake hits Iran’s southern province of Bushehr
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Iranian Seismological Center (ISC) as M5.9 hit Iran's southern province of Bushehr at 06:41 UTC on April 18, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). USGS and EMSC are reporting M5.8 at a depth of 10 km.
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 27 km (17 miles) NNE of Bandar-e Genāveh (population 52 750), 65 km (40 miles) S of Dogonbadan (population 94 638), 79 km (49 miles) NW of Borazjan (population 86 059), 90 km (56 miles) WSW of Nurabad (population 64 041), and 92 km (57 miles) N of Bushehr (population 223 500).
There are about 1 260 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).
2 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 75 000 strong, 72 000 moderate, and 1 903 000 light.
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 a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building type is low-rise nonductile concrete frame with infill construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
ISC registered 7 aftershocks with magnitudes between 2.6 and 4.5 by 07:30 UTC.
Tasnim news agency reported electricity and telephone/internet outages in the city of Govaneh.
The Iranian government official told Reuters there were no reports of damage at the Bushehr nuclear complex, located about 100 km (62 miles) S of the epicenter.
At least two people were injured in Gonaveh and taken to hospital.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
