A magnitude 7.1 earthquake destroyed 120 villages in the Alborz Mountains and killed an estimated 1,500 people in northern Iran.
Key Facts
- Moment Magnitude
- 7.1 Mw
- Estimated Fatalities
- 1,500
- Focal Depth
- 15 km
- Max Mercalli Intensity
- IX (Violent)
- Villages Devastated
- 120
- Time of Strike
- 04:12 local time
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake resulted from thrust faulting beneath the Alborz Mountains in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. The region lies along a seismically active zone where the Arabian Plate converges with the Eurasian Plate, generating significant compressional stress that periodically produces major seismic events.
On 2 July 1957 at 04:12, a moment magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck northern Iran's Mazandaran province at a focal depth of 15 km. The shock reached a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), devastating 120 villages across the Alborz Mountains and causing reported damage in Tehran, Qaem Shahr, and Sari.
The earthquake killed an estimated 1,500 people and triggered landslides, including one that dammed the Haraz River, creating secondary hazards for the region. The destruction of 120 villages caused widespread displacement and significant infrastructure loss across the Alborz mountain communities of northern Iran.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 1,500 (earthquake)