A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeastern Iran, killing eleven and exposing rural vulnerability to seismic events due to mud-brick construction.
Key Facts
- Moment Magnitude
- 6.6 Mw
- Deaths
- 11
- Injured
- Over 100
- Max Mercalli Intensity
- VIII (Severe)
- Villages Damaged
- Approximately 20
- Distance from Bam
- 100 km
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Iran's Kerman Province lies in a seismically active region prone to destructive earthquakes. Rural settlements in the area consist largely of mud-brick structures, which are highly susceptible to collapse under seismic stress, compounding the danger of even moderate-magnitude events.
On December 20, 2010, at 22:11 local time, a moment magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck approximately 20 km from Hosseinabad in Kerman Province, southeastern Iran. The quake reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII and caused damage across roughly 20 villages near Fahraj, while also being felt in Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
Eleven people were killed and over 100 injured. Telephone and power services were disrupted across the affected area. Landslides blocked access roads to remote villages, hampering Red Crescent relief efforts. The city of Bam, about 100 km away, experienced only light shaking with no reported damage.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 11 (earthquake)