World

Iran earthquake kills 3, injures hundreds

11:18 am - January 29, 2023
World

Iran Earthquake

Iran earthquake is a major problem. At least three people were killed and 816 were injured late Saturday after an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit north-west Iran near the border with Turkey, according to official media.

The Seismological Center of the University of Tehran reported that the shallow earthquake occurred near the city of Khoy in the province of West Azerbaijan around 9:44 pm (1814 GMT).

5.9-magnitude quake in Iran

IRNA news agency reported West Azerbaijan governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian as stating, “This event has left 816 wounded and three dead.” The previous death and injury toll was two people, but it has now been revised up to three.

IRNA stated that after the earthquake, Iran’s Minister of Interior Ahmad Vahidi visited Khoy to assess the damage.

Iran is located on the borders of many major tectonic plates, hence the country is prone to earthquakes.

Hundreds of people were injured on January 18 when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Khoy.

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck the western town of Habash-e Olya in February 2020, killing at least nine people in neighbouring Turkey.

In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Iran, killing 40,000 people, injuring 300,000 more, and leaving 500,000 of the population homeless.