6/22/2002 Iran Earthquake

Updated 6/30/2002

On Saturday June 22, 2002 at 7:28 AM local time (02:58 GMT) a magniture 6.5 earthquake hit northwest Iran. It was centered around the town of Bou'in-Zahra, in northern Qazvin province about 240 miles west of Teheran. The death toll was originally thought to be over 500 but within a few days was revised downwards to 245. There were an estimated 1,500 injuries and 5,000 homes were destroyed leaving 25,000 people homeless. Nearly 100 villages were badly damaged or destoyed, according to the Red Crescent. Most of the dead were buried when their unreinforced homes collapsed. Emergency services were strained, with local people complaining that the government was too slow to get help to the region and that the death toll was actually higher than the official reports. Efforts to prevent the spread of disease include spraying disinfectant.

International aid has been offered by many countries, including the US, in spite of the strained relations between the two countries. Iran has declared that it will accept some US humanitarian aid.

There have been many strong aftershocks, up to 5.1 Magnitude.

This quake was casued by the movement of the Arabian Plate as it moves to the northwest relative to the Eurasian Plate. The quake had a shallow focus as the earth's crust adjusted to the strain caused by this collision. Frequent shallow focus quakes are the rule in this area. The USGS describes this process as follows: " This recent Iranian earthquake occurred in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. This highly seismic region forms the boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. The Arabian Plate is a small plate split from the African Plate by rifting along the Red Sea. As it collides with the massive Eurasian Plate it causes uplift of the Zagros mountains and numerous damaging earthquakes. " (See the Plate Tectonics page for more information on these processes.)

See also the following news stories:

• Rescuers search Iran quake survivors (BBC 6/23/02)
• Iran hit by quake aftershocks (BBC 6/25/02)
• Help too late say quake survivors (CNN 6/24/02)

3/25/2002 Afghan Earthquake

Updated 3/28/2002

On the morning of March 25, 2002 at 6:18 GMT GMT a 6.1 magnitude earthquake was felt in Northern Afghanistan. Initial reports set the death toll at 1,800 but that has been revised downwards to about 1,000. The shallow focus of the quake led to more severe shaking at the surface and thus more damage than a deeper quake of the same magnitude. Buildings are not built to resist quakes, using stone and masonry, which are easily damaged by the frequent earthquakes. The area hit has suffered from drought, famine and war in the last few years. Whole villages are reported to have been leveled with thousands homeless. The initial quake has been followed by a series of severe aftershocks and related quakes that compounded the damage. The same general area has been hit by major earthquakes on a regular basis.

Aid was immediately rushed to the area. Roads to the affected areas are difficult under the best of circumstances and made worse by earthquake caused landslides. Aid has gotten through by helicopter, with the international peacekeeping force in Kabul helping out. Many aid workers are already in the country helping victims of famine and war. Relief efforts may be hampered by landmines and the fear of Al Quaeda attacks. A statement apparently from Al Quaeda blames the quake on God's Punishment for the war against the Taliban. This quake was casued by the movement of the Indian Plate as it moves northward into the Eurasian Plate. The quake had a shallow focus as the earth's crust adjusted to the strain caused by this collision. (See the Plate Tectonics page for more information on these processes.)

See also the following news stories:

• Afghan Earthquake Toll Believed to be less than 1,000 (NY Times via Tampa Tribune 3/28/02) Afghan Earthquake Toll Believed to be less than 1,000 (NY Times via Tampa Tribune 3/28/02)
• In Pictures: Afghan Quake (BBC 3/27/02)

• Aid Pours in for Afghan Quake victims (BBC 3/28/02)

• Aid Pouring into Afghan Quake Site (AP via Lycos 3/28/02)
• Afghan Quake is God's Punishment: Al Quaeda (Hindustantimes.com 3/28/02)

2/3/2002 Turkish Earthquake

Updated 2/3/2002

On the morning of February 3, 2002 at 7:11 GMT (09:11 local time) a 6.2 magnitude earthquake was felt in Western Turkey. The epicenter was 130 miles SW of Ankara, 300 miles SE of Istanbul. 45 people have been confirmed dead with at least 130 injuries.

Afyon province at the epicenter is a sparsely populated rural area. Most casualties were in industrial developments, where several buildings collapsed. Since the quake occurred on Sunday morning when most people were home, there are fewer casualties than there might have been had the quake been at a different time. The Turkish government immediately sent 3000 tents and rescue workers. President Echivit visited the area. The government had been criticized for its slow response to the much larger 1999 quake. This was a shallow quake, only 10 km deep. In general quakes at this depth are caused by lateral movements of the earth's crust. The quake occurred in an area characterized by frequent shallow quakes. The entire west coast of Turkey from the Black Sea right around the coast down to the Mediterranean is part of this zone. Istanbul is the largest city in this area and is definitely considered at risk for a major quake with thousand of casualties. This part of Turkey is located near the intersection of three major tectonic plates. The Eurasian Plate is to the north, The African and Arabian plates to the South and Southeast are moving generally northwards, squeezing Turkey in the process. Earthquakes on the Anatolian Fault are the result of these pressures. (See the http://theearthquakemuseum.weebly.com/plate-tectonics.html">Plate Tectonics page for more information on these processes.)

See also the following news stories:

• Death Toll Rises in Turkey Quake (BBC 2/3/02)

• Turkish Quake Kills 42, Traps Others in Rubble (Reuters via Netscape 2/3/02)

• NEIC Earthquake Bulletin - Turkey Quake