Earthquake Update: Extremely dangerous M6.2 earthquake struck Iran-Iraq border region Strong and shallow earthquake measuring M6.2 (EMSC/USGS) on the Richter scale struck Iran-Iraq border region at 02:32 UTC (07:02 local time) on Monday, August 18, 2014. Both EMSC and USGS report shallow depth of 10 km. According to the Iranian Seismological Center (ISC), the quake (M6.2 at 10 km) hit two western provinces of Ilam and Lorestan as well as Khuzestan Province in the southwest of the country. Epicenter was located 36 km (22 miles) SE of Abdanan, Iran; 37 km (23 miles) E of Dehloran, Iran; 78 km (48 miles) WNW of Dezful, Iran; 81 km (50 miles) NW of Shush, Iran, and 312 km (194 miles) ESE of Baghdad, Iraq. There are 1 159 177 people living within 100 km radius. USGS issued Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses. Updates: By 06:00 UTC there were no reported casualties. Initial reports mention 61 people injured. The town of Murmuri (684 families following the 2006 census) has been devastated to 70%. This town is only 4 km away from the epicenter, according to ISC. According to the governor the main road towards the epicenter has been blocked by multiple landslides. The quake destroyed telecommunications department in the city of Abdanan in the province making it impossible to estimate the amount of damages inflicted on the city’s rural areas. Governor of Abdanan Majid Asgari said that rural areas suffered heavy damage by the strong quake, adding that some villages were totally destroyed. 08:35 UTC: The new numbers are: 240 injured and 2600 houses or collapsed or damages to various degrees. (This is only an intermediate report.) (ER) Numerous strong aftershocks are being registered, the strongest was M5.8 at 05:25 UTC. 09:33 UTC: ISC reported 43 moderate to strong aftershocks so far.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 10:13:38 +0000
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