Strong Quake Jolts Tehran, Sparks Panic

EghtesadOnline: A5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Damavand city in Tehran Province in the early hours of Friday, with tremors felt as far as the capital and Alborz and Mazandaran provinces, causing some residents to flee their homes.

News ID: ۷۴۹۹۹۷

09 May 2020

Another 2.9-Richter quake had occurred earlier around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. About 34 aftershocks were also registered in nearby cities up until 8:30 in the morning, the biggest of which measured 3.9 on the Richter scale, ISNA reported.

According to the Iranian Seismic Network, the epicenter of the earthquake was 6 km from Damavand, 13 km and 16 km from Roudehen and Bumehen cities in Tehran Province.

The International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology said the Mosha fault, which extends from Damavand to areas near Karaj in Alborz Province, is most likely to have caused the temblor.

The affected areas incurred light casualties, with 33 people injured, one 60-year-old man killed while rushing out of home and a 21-year-old woman dying of shock, according to the head of the Crisis Management Organization.

Esmaeil Najjar also told IRNA that 18 injuries and the only fatality occurred in Damavand and 15 people were hurt in Tehran, of which 11 received outpatient treatment and the remaining four were hospitalized.

"In view of expert opinions and experience of past earthquakes in the country, there is no need to worry," he said.

Najjar noted that all district mayors of Tehran as well as urban authorities of Isfahan Province, which have been designated to back up prospective emergency measures, are on standby since last night and constantly monitored the situation.

Tehran Municipality has announced that it will be on the alert for at least 48 hours, while all parks and some stadiums across the city are open to those who wish to spend the night outdoors.

Pirouz Hanachi, Tehran’s mayor, also told ISNA that all shelters are also open to public, but people are not advised to stay there due to the risk of the coronavirus outbreak.

Mehdi Heydari, caretaker of Damavand's Governorate, also said the county's crisis management taskforce is on standby.

"The Iranian Red Crescent Society, emergency services and other relief centers are on full alert in their bases and all urban and rural areas are under control," he said.