Strong and shallow M6.1 earthquake hits southern Iran

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit southern Iran at 21:32 UTC on July 1, 2022. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.

The epicenter was located 54.8 km (34 miles) NE of Bandar-e Lengeh (population 22 768),
103.4 km (64.2 miles) W of Qeshm (population 25 000), and 107.9 km (67.1 miles) WSW of Bandar Abbas (population 352 173), Hormozgan, Iran.

9 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 17 000 strong, and 164 000 moderate.

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.

Numerous aftershocks, including M6.0, M5.7 and M5.0, were registered over the next 90 minutes.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. 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.

At least 5 people were killed and 19 injured, as of early Saturday morning (July 2).

“All of the victims died in the first earthquake and no-one was harmed in the next two severe quakes as people were already outside their homes,” said Foad Moradzadeh, governor of Bandar Lengeh country.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google