A magnitude 6.4 earthquake killed at least 612 people and injured 5,000 in northern Kerman province, Iran, devastating rural villages in Zarand County.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 6.4 Mw
- Date & Time
- 22 February 2005, 05:55 IST
- Deaths
- At least 612
- Injured
- At least 5,000
- Epicenter
- Zarand County, northern Kerman province
- Also affected
- Ravar County and city of Kerman
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake resulted from seismic activity beneath northern Kerman province, a tectonically active region of Iran. The rupture occurred at 02:25:22 UTC on 22 February 2005, releasing energy equivalent to a moment magnitude of 6.4, sufficient to cause widespread structural failure in the predominantly rural, mud-brick settlements of Zarand County and surrounding areas.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck northern Kerman province, Iran, at 05:55 local time on 22 February 2005. The epicenter was located in Zarand County. The violent shaking collapsed thousands of homes across the county, with strong shaking also felt in nearby Ravar County and the city of Kerman, causing deaths and structural damage across the region.
At least 612 people were killed and 5,000 injured, with most fatalities concentrated in rural villages close to the epicenter. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed throughout Zarand County. Structural collapses and deaths also occurred in Ravar County and the city of Kerman, requiring emergency relief and reconstruction efforts across the affected zone.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 612 (earthquake)