Two Dead and At Least 23 Injured Following Damavand Earthquake
An earthquake that struck Damavand and Tehran after midnight left two dead and several injured. The earthquake measured more than 5.1 on the Richter scale with its epicenter 6 kilometers from Damavand. Mazandaran suffered no casualties or material damage from the earthquake.
Mojtaba Khaldi, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s Emergency Organization, reported Friday morning on the 19th of Ordibehesht (May 8) that the number of injured from the Damavand earthquake had risen to at least 23 people.
Reuters news agency reported that so far two people have been killed in this earthquake—a 21-year-old woman in Tehran and a 60-year-old man in Damavand.
According to the Iranian Emergency Organization’s spokesperson, citizens were injured as a result of panic and hasty evacuation during the earthquake in Tehran and Alborz provinces.
According to the Iran News Agency (IRNA), the intensity of this earthquake in Pardis, Lavasan, Damavand, and Jajrood was such that it was even felt in Varamin, Shahr-e Rey, Karaj, Mallard, and Shahriar.
According to Ismail Farzangan, head of the National Accelerometer Network of the Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, this 5.1 Richter scale earthquake occurred at 4 hours, 48 minutes and 21 seconds on Friday in the vicinity of the border between Tehran and Mazandaran provinces.
The epicenter of this earthquake was reported to be 6 kilometers from Damavand, 13 kilometers from Rudehen, and 16 kilometers from Boomehen.
According to IRNA’s report, approximately one hour before this earthquake occurred, a foreshock measuring 2.9 degrees on the Richter scale centered on Damavand had taken place.
According to the Islamic Republic’s Crisis Management spokesperson, the 5.1 Richter scale Damavand earthquake was a shallow earthquake and was therefore felt in various cities including Tehran. He added: By 8:30 AM Friday morning, approximately 34 aftershocks up to magnitude 3.9 have occurred.
On the other hand, Reza Karami Mohammadi, head of Tehran Municipality’s Crisis Management Headquarters, said following Friday morning’s earthquake: “The municipality’s crisis management centers have been activated and our personnel will be on full alert for the next three days.”
While referring to the seismic activity of the Mosha fault, he recommended that citizens install a special application prepared for this purpose and study educational materials regarding earthquakes.
Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic’s Army, also ordered the military forces to maintain full readiness to assist the crisis management headquarters.
Source: DW
