ShakeMap (Calculated intensity of this Iran earthquake):
View ShakeMap, Epicenter and historical seismicity on interactive map
What happened:
Over the past few weeks, the Iranian province Hormozgan has been hit by a seuqnece of several big earthquakes. Two new ones happened on Saturday. Accoding to the Iranian Seismological Center the quakes with Magnitude 5.8 and 5.9 happened shortly after 4 pm UTC. The epicenters were located between the mainland and the popular touristic Island Qeshm. Both quakes were shallow and south of the previous quakes. Therefore, new severe damage can be expected, especially on Qeshm. Shaking of this quake was felt widely across the southern Persian Gulf, including Dubai (UAE) and Doha (Qatar).
Previously on July 1st, three earthquakes of Magnitude 6 happened onshore and caused severe destruction in several villages and significant soil liquefaction. At least seven people died in this event sequence, more than 100 were injured. Multiple strong aftershocks followed over the weeks. Today’s quakes are the southern extention of this sequence. A new uptick of seismicity (aftershocks) can be expected over the next few weeks. However, it is unclear how the situation will further develop.
Current earthquake activity in Iran:
In the past 30 days, 43 earthquakes of magnitude 3.9 or higher were detected in Hormozgan, Iran (see map section). Therefore, the earthquake activity of the past month has been much higher relative to long-term trends (more than 20% deviation).
Statistic:
Since 1960, 35 earthquakes larger than Magnitude 5.9 were detected in this region. This makes an average of 0.6 earthquakes larger than M5.9 per year in Iran. Therefore, the general earthquake activity is usually very high and quakes of this size have an average recurrence time of approx. 1.7 years (20 months).
Largest earthquakes in this map section* (Iran and nearby)
| Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1977-3-21 | 6.9 | 29 |
| 2010-12-20 | 6.7 | 12 |
| 2003-12-26 | 6.6 | 10 |
| 1999-3-4 | 6.6 | 33 |
| 1972-4-10 | 6.6 | 10 |
| 1990-11-6 | 6.6 | 11 |
| 2013-4-9 | 6.4 | 12 |
| 2021-11-14 | 6.4 | 10 |
| 1961-6-11 | 6.4 | 15 |
| 1999-5-6 | 6.2 | 33 |
*Data: USGS (Magnitude 5 +, since 1960)
What to do in case of an earthquake?
1. No panic.
2. If you are inside a building: Seek shelter under stable furniture (e.g. dining table). Be aware of falling objects. Do not flee the building! Falling roof tiles, bricks and glass can harm you. After the shaking stopped: Turn off the electronical devices. Check gas pipes for leaks. Check for structural damage. Leave your house if you are uncertain. In case of damage: Do not enter the building before professional savety check! Dangerous aftershocks might follow. Help your neighbours if necessary.If outdoors: Keep away from buildings, try to find open space, crouch down and cover your head with your arms. Do not run on streets before checking for cars. Always watch your environment.
3. If you are near the coast: In case of strong or long-lasting shaking evacuate to higher grounds immediately! A tsunami might be possible. Do not wait for official warnings. In areas of high tsunami threat, follow the evacuation route signs but be aware of possible damaged buildings and landslides on your route. Once reaching a higher / save point, listen to official instructions and warnings.
4. If you are in the mountains or near a steep slope: Watch for rockfalls, landslides and avalanches. Get away from slopes immediately and protect your head with your arms.
5. Try to help people in need. Take special care for eldery people and children. After the earthquake stopped, confirm that your neighbours, friends and family are save. Help them, if necessary but do not get yourself into a dangerous situation. Call and wait for professional rescue teams.