List of earthquakes in Iran

Earthquakes in Iran from 1990 to 2006, by United States Geological Survey
Iran Faults

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults that cover at least 90% of the country.[1] As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.

Geology and history

The Iranian plateau is subject to most types of tectonic activity, including active folding, faulting and volcanic eruptions. It is well known for its long history of disastrous earthquake activity. Not only have these earthquakes killed thousands, but they have also led to waste of valuable natural resources.[2] Since 1900, at least 126,000 fatalities have resulted from earthquakes in Iran.[2] In addition, the Iranian plate is bordered by the Indian plate (to the southeast), the Eurasian plate (to the north), and the Arabian plate (to the south and west), which is where the Zagros fold and thrust belt (an ancient subduction zone) lies.

Present danger

On Sunday, December 28, 2025, Iranian news media reported the occurrence of an earthquake in the northeastern province of Tehran.[3] They also published a report indicating that in the event of a major earthquake in Greater Tehran, 73% of all highways and roads would be damaged beyond repair, making all rescue operations impossible.[3] The reaction of Mehdi Chamran, Chairman of the Tehran City Council: “We hope and pray to God that an earthquake does not occur; otherwise, we will face a major problem.”[3] Parviz Sorouri, Vice Chairman of the Tehran City Council, said: “Tehran is located on active fault lines, and this is undeniable. In the event of a severe earthquake in Tehran, we may face an unprecedented or nearly unprecedented catastrophe in world history.”[3] Recently, Ali Beitollahi, Head of the Engineering Seismology and Seismic Risk Department at the Road, Housing, and Urban Development Research Center, said: “The phenomenon of land subsidence is increasingly developing across Iran and threatens 40 percent of the country’s population.”[3]

Earthquakes

Date Province Mag. MMI Deaths Injuries Total damage / notes Citations
2024-06-18 Razavi Khorasan 4.9 mb 4 120 Severe damage [4][5]
2023-03-24 West Azerbaijan 5.6 Mw VIII 165 Severe damage [6]
2023-01-28 West Azerbaijan 5.9 Mw VII 3 1,750 Widespread damage [7]
2023-01-18 West Azerbaijan 5.7 Mw VI 252 Severe damage [8]
2022-10-05 West Azerbaijan 5.6 Mw VII 1,127 Severe damage [9]
2022-07-23 Hormozgan 5.6 Mw VII 1 Minor damage [10][11]
2022-07-03 Gilan 4.1 mb 1 Minor damage [12][13][14]
2022-07-01 Hormozgan 6.0 Mw VII 7 111 Severe damage / doublet [15][16]
2022-06-25 Hormozgan 5.6 Mw VII 1 37 [17]
2022-04-23 Fars 4.4 mb VI 1 Minor damage [18][19]
2022-03-20 Fars 4.7 mb VII 2 Minor damage [20][21]
2022-03-16 Hormozgan 5.9 Mw VII 2 Minor damage [22][23]
2022-01-23 East Azerbaijan 4.0 mb VII 1 [24]
2021-11-14 Hormozgan 6.4 Mw IX 2 98 Doublet [25][26]
2020-05-07 Tehran 4.6 mb V 2 38 [27][28]
2020-02-23 West Azerbaijan 5.8 Mw VII 10 125 [29]
2019-11-07 East Azerbaijan 5.9 Mw VII 7 584 [30]
2019-07-08 Khuzestan 5.6 Mw VII 1 100 [31]
2018-11-25 Kermanshah 6.3 Mw VI 1 761 Aftershock [32]
2018-08-25 Kermanshah 6.0 Mw VII 3 243 Aftershock [33]
2017-12-20 Tehran5.2 MwVI2974.0 Mwaftershock: 1 dead, 75 injured
2017-11-12Kermanshah7.3 MwIX6308,435
2017-05-13 North Khorasan5.6 MwVII3370
2017-04-05 Khorasan-e Razavi6.1 MwVII234
2017-01-06Fars5.0 MwVI45
2014-08-18Ilam6.2 MwVIII60–330
2013-11-28Bushehr5.6 MwVII745
2013-04-13Sistan and Baluchestan7.7 MwVIII35117
2013-04-09Bushehr6.3 MwVIII37850
2012-08-11East Azerbaijan6.4 MwVIII3063,037Doublet
2012-08-11East Azerbaijan6.3 MwDoublet
2011-06-15Kerman5.32
2010-12-20Kerman6.5 MwIX11100
2010-08-27Semnan5.8 MwVII440800 displaced
2010-07-30Razavi Khorasan5.5 MwVI274Severe damage
2008-09-10Qeshm5.9 MwVIII745
2006-03-31Lorestan6.1 MwVIII63–70+1,246–1,418
2005-11-27Qeshm5.8 MwVII13100
2005-02-22Kerman6.4 MwVIII6121,411
2004-05-28Māzandarān6.3 MwVIII35278–400$15.4 million
2003-12-26Kerman6.6 MwIX34,000200,00045,000–75,600 displaced[34]
2002-06-22Qazvin6.3 MwVIII2611,500
1999-11-19Semnan 5.6 Mw----unknownunknown[35]
1999-03-04Kerman6.6 MwVII1517 houses damaged[36]
1998-03-14Kerman6.6 MwVIII550[37]
1997-05-10South Khorasan7.3 MwX1,5672,300
1997-02-28Ardabil6.1 MwVIII1,1002,600
1997-02-04North Khorasan6.5 MwVIII1001,948
1990-06-20Gilan7.4 MwX35,000–50,00060,000–105,000
1981-07-28Kerman7.1 MsIX1,5001,000
1981-06-11Kerman6.6 MwVIII+1,400–3,000many
1979-11-14South Khorasan6.8 MwVIII297–440
1978-09-16South Khorasan7.4 MwIX15,000–25,000
1977-12-19Kerman5.9 MwVII584–665
1977-04-06Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari6.0 MwVIII348–366
1977-03-21Hormozgan7.0 MsVIII152–167
1972-04-10Fars6.7 MwIX5,3741,710
1970-07-30Khorasan6.4175450[38][39]
1968-08-31South Khorasan7.4 MwX15,000
1968-09-01South Khorasan6.4 Mw900
1965-02-10East Azerbaijan5.120
1962-09-01Qazvin7.1 MLIX12,2252,776
1960-04-24Fars6.0 Muk420[40]
1958-08-16Hamadan6.7 Muk132[40]
1957-12-13Kermanshah7.11,130
1957-07-02Māzandarān7.11,200
1953-02-12Semnan6.6 MwVIII800–973140
1947-08-05South Khorasan7.3500
1932-05-20Māzandarān5.4 MukVIII1,070[40]
1930-05-07West Azerbaijan7.1 MwIX1,360–3,000
1929-05-01Khorasan-e Razavi7.2 MwIX3,257–3,8001,121
1923-05-25Khorasan-e Razavi5.9 MwVII+2,200More than 7 villages destroyed[41]
1909-01-23Lorestan7.3 MLIX6,000–8,000
1895-01-17Khorasan-e Razavi6.8 MsVIII1,000–11,000
1893-11-17Khorasan-e Razavi6.6 MsX18,000[42]
1872-01-06North Khorasan5.6VII4,000[43]
1871-12-23North Khorasan6.3VII2,000[43]
1864-01-17KermanVIIIMany[40]
1853-05-05FarsIX9,000–13,000[40]
1778-12-15Kashan6.2 Ms>8,000[42]
1755-06-07Isfahan40,000
1727-11-18East AzerbaijanVIII77,000
1721-04-26East Azerbaijan7.7 MsVIII–X8,000–250,000
1679-06-04Yerevan, Armenia6.4 MsIX–X7,600Under Iranian rule at the time
1667-11-25Shamakhi, Azerbaijan6.9 MsX80,000Under Iranian rule at the time
1641-02-05Tabriz, East Azerbaijan6.8 MsIX30,000Tabriz completely destroyed
1101-??-??Khorasan-e Razavi6.5 MukX60,000[43]
1042-08-21East Azerbaijan7.640,000
1008-04-11Bushehr6.5 Ms16,000[43]
978-06-17Bushehr5.3 Ms2,000[43]
893-03-23Ardabil150,000See also 893 Dvin earthquake
856-12-22Semnan7.9 MsX200,000
850-07-15Tehran45,000[43]
743-??-??Semnan7.2 MsIX[43]
662-04-26Semnan40,000[43]
400? BCETehran7.6[43]
Note: Mw = moment magnitude scale, Ms = surface-wave magnitude, and Muk = unknown. The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Preliminary Earthquake Reconnaissance Report on the June 22, 2002 Changureh (Avaj), Iran Earthquake". International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. 2002-07-19. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Manuel Berberian. "100 years; 126,000 deaths". The Iranian.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "پژوهش تازه: ۷۳ درصد راه‌های استان تهران در برابر زلزله آسیب‌پذیر هستند". www.iranintl.com (in Persian). 2025-12-28. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  4. ↑ "M 4.9 – 6 km SE of Kāshmar, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 18 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "۹۰۰ واحد مسکونی در زلزله کاشمر آسیب دیده است" [900 residential units damaged in Kashmir earthquake city] (in Persian). Islamic Republic News Agency. 22 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "M 5.6 – 13 km SW of Khowy, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 24 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "M 5.9 – 14 km SSW of Khowy, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 28 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "M 5.7 – 12 km S of Khowy, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 18 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "M 5.6 – 8 km SE of Khowy, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 5 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "M 5.6 – 69 km NE of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 23 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "مصدوم زلزله هرمزگان". ghatreh (in Persian). 24 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "M 4.1 – 37 km N of Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh". United States Geological Survey. 3 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "M 4.3 – NEAR THE COAST OF NORTHERN IRAN – 2022-07-03 14:05:33 UTC". European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
  14. ↑ زلزله گیلان یک مصدوم بر جای گذاشت. Young Journalists Club (in Persian). 3 July 2022. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "M 6.0 – 52 km NE of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 1 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "M 6.0 – 57 km NE of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 1 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "M 5.6 – 31 km NE of Kīsh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 25 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "M 4.4 – southern Iran". United States Geological Survey. 23 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "وقوع زلزله در منطقه خان زنیان، تاکنون یک مصدوم داشت". sums.ac.ir (in Persian). Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  20. ↑ "M 4.7 – 90 km SE of Dārāb, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 19 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "زلزله داراب فارس ۲ مصدوم داشت" [Darab Fars earthquake had 2 casualties] (in Persian). Islamic Republic News Agency.
  22. ↑ "M 5.9 – 59 km NNW of Bandar e-Lengeh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 16 March 2022.
  23. ↑ "See | The latest details of the Hormozgan earthquake 2 outpatient injured were treated". hamshahrionline.com (in Persian). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ↑ "M 4.0 – Northwestern Iran". United States Geological Survey. 23 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "Dubai and Abu Dhabi feel tremors from 6.2 magnitude quake in Iran". The National. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  26. ↑ "Overall Orange Earthquake alert in Islamic Republic of Iran on 14 Nov 2021 12:08 UTC". gdacs.org. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  27. ↑ "M 4.6 – 3 km NNW of Damavand, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 7 May 2020.
  28. ↑ "Moderate Iran quake kills two, draws many into Tehran streets". Reuters. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "M 5.8 - 41 km NW of Salmas, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 23 February 2020.
  30. ↑ APA.az (2019-11-09). "Number of wounded reaches 529 in quake in Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran". apa.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  31. ↑ "M 5.6 – 31 km SE of Masjed Soleyman, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 8 July 2019.
  32. ↑ "M 6.3 – 15 km SW of Sarpol-e Zahab, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 25 November 2018.
  33. ↑ "M 6.0 – 32 km SW of Javanrud, Iran". United States Geological Survey. 25 August 2018.
  34. ↑ "After 17 Years Iran Finally Announces 34,000 Died in Bam Earthquake". Iran International. December 26, 2020. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Earthquake hits Iran". BBC News. 19 November 1999. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  36. ↑ "M 6.6 – 110 km SSE of K?h Sef?d, Iran". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  37. ↑ Berberian 2014, p. 617
  38. ↑ "Quake Levels Iranian Villages", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 1970, p1
  39. ↑ "M 6.4 – 52 km NE of Kal?leh, Iran". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 NGDC (1972), Significant Earthquake Database (Data Set), National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K, archived from the original on September 29, 2006
  41. ↑ Berberian 2014, p. 593
  42. 1 2 Ambraseys N.N.; Melville C.P. (2005). A History of Persian Earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. pp. 53–54, 160. ISBN 9780521021876.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Search results Country=Iran, Year <2025". NGDC.

Sources

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