Shallow M5.6 earthquake in northwestern Iran leaves 239 injured

m5.6 earthquake iran march 24 2023

The number of people injured in the M5.6 earthquake that shook northwestern Iran on Friday, March 24, 2023, has risen to 239, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA).

The quake occurred near Khoy County in the province of West Azerbaijan at 03:16 UTC (06:46 LT) at a depth of 8 km (4.97 miles), according to the Iranian Seismological Centre (IRSC). The USGS reported it as M5.6 at a depth of 18 km (11 miles).

Of the injured people, 50 were from Khoy County and the rest were from Salmas County, according to Sadeq Mahmoudi, the head of Iran’s Relief and Rescue Organization, who was quoted by ISNA.

Mahmoudi also reported that 219 people have been released from medical centers after receiving treatment, while 20 people, including seven from Khoy and 13 from Salmas, remain hospitalized. The Relief and Rescue Organization has been sending aid to the affected areas, including tents and blankets.

The earthquake damaged 80 residential units in 10 villages in Salmas and Khoy counties, said Director General of West Azerbaijan’s Housing Foundation Jafar Barzegar.

This is the second earthquake to hit Khoy County in two months, following a 5.9-magnitude quake in January that killed three people and injured more than 800.

m5.6 earthquake iran march 24 2023 bg
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

References:

1 Iran earthquake: 239 injured as 5.6-magnitude quake hits northwestern region – New Straits Times – March 26, 2023

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google

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