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Two extremely dangerous earthquakes M6.4 and M6.3 struck northwestern Iran

Posted by Adonai on August 11, 2012 in categories Featured stories, Seismic activity

Northwestern Iran was struck by two strong and very shallow earthquakes on August 11, 20102 within only 15 minutes. USGS recorded earthquake with magnitude 6.4 at 12:23 UTC and second with magnitude 6.3 at 12:34 UTC. Recorded depth of both earthquakes was about 9.9 km (6.2 miles). Both earthquakes struck approximately the same area 20 km (12 miles) WSW of Ahar, Iran at 38.322°N, 46.888°E.

City of Tabriz is only 60km (37 miles) from epicenter area with population of 1.4 million people.

EMSC recorded magnitude 6.2 and 6.1 at depth of 10 km.

According to USGS there were 6 recorded aftershocks with magnitude greater than 4; and 15 aftershocks with magnitude above 3.5 according to EMSC by 18:37 UTC.

5.0	2012/08/11 15:43:19	38.275	46.617	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
4.7	2012/08/11 15:21:15	38.315	46.793	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
4.5	2012/08/11 14:25:15	38.039	46.644	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
4.8	2012/08/11 13:14:07	38.359	46.725	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
4.4	2012/08/11 13:05:55	38.606	46.986	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
4.8	2012/08/11 12:49:18	38.209	46.756	10.0	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
6.3	2012/08/11 12:34:35	38.324	46.759	9.8	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
6.4	2012/08/11 12:23:18	38.322	46.888	9.9	NORTHWESTERN IRAN

By 20:00 UTC state run agencies reported that 180 people were killed and 1300 were injured. 6 villages have been almost completely destroyed. 60 villages have sustained 50%-80% damages by earlier reports. The earthquake has cut off the gas supply to 70 villages in the Ahar area.

Labor news agency ILNA reports that Rescue services admitted tonight that 10 to 20 villages in the epicenter area have not been reached yet. The power is down in the earthquake stricken area and as many roads are blocked Search and Rescue work will be very difficult.

Iranian officials have announced that the figures from the death and wounded will increase due to the critical condition of the wounded.

According to the report of Presidential Office website, the Iran cabinet members expressed their deep sorrow over the earthquake incident which has caused so many people to die, and expressed sympathy with victims’ families. The government called on all natural disaster headquarters and responsible bodies to mobilize all their possibilities and releif equipment and provide quake-stricken areas with all kinds of necessary assistance. (ER)

Magnitude	6.4
Date-Time	Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 12:23:17 UTC Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 03:53:17 PM at epicenter
Location	38.322°N, 46.888°E
Depth	9.9 km (6.2 miles)
Region	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
Distances	20 km (12 miles) WSW of Ahar, Iran 60 km (37 miles) ENE of Tabriz, Iran 95 km (59 miles) E of Marand, Iran 100 km (62 miles) SSE of Kapan, Armenia
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 13.6 km (8.5 miles); depth +/- 3.8 km (2.4 miles)
Parameters	NST=448, Nph=452, Dmin=275 km, Rmss=1.21 sec, Gp= 36°, M-type=(unknown type), Version=C
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usb000bupa

Magnitude	6.3
Date-Time	Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 12:34:35 UTC Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 04:04:35 PM at epicenter
Location	38.324°N, 46.759°E
Depth	9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Region	NORTHWESTERN IRAN
Distances	32 km (19 miles) WSW of Ahar, Iran 48 km (29 miles) ENE of Tabriz, Iran 86 km (53 miles) E of Marand, Iran 96 km (59 miles) NNW of Hashtrud, Iran
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 14 km (8.7 miles); depth +/- 4 km (2.5 miles)
Parameters	NST=509, Nph=509, Dmin=267.2 km, Rmss=1.01 sec, Gp= 22°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=9
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usb000buph