TEHRAN: At least four people were killed and 120 injured on Tuesday when a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Iran’s northeastern city of Kashmar, state media reported.
The tremor, which occurred at 1:24 pm local time (0954 GMT), caused significant damage to both urban and rural areas, particularly affecting older structures in Kashmar. Governor Hajatollah Shariatmadari provided updates on the casualty toll during a televised statement, noting that 35 people had been hospitalized due to injuries sustained from the quake.
State television broadcasted scenes of devastation in Kashmar, showing rescue teams amidst rubble-filled streets where buildings had collapsed. Initial reports indicated that many of the affected structures were already in a dilapidated state prior to the earthquake.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). Iran, located on several tectonic plates, frequently experiences seismic activity, making it prone to earthquakes of varying magnitudes.
Last year, a 5.9 magnitude quake in Iran’s mountainous northwest claimed three lives and injured over 800 people near the Turkish border. One of the country’s most devastating earthquakes occurred in 2003, when a 6.6 magnitude tremor struck the southeastern city of Bam, resulting in the deaths of more than 31,000 people.
Efforts are currently underway to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the quake in Kashmar, with emergency responders focusing on rescue operations and providing medical assistance to those affected.
