September 22, 1923 Earthquake: Sirjan, Iran
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sirjan, Iran on September 22, 1923 at 20:47:43 UTC, 15 km below the surface. It killed 290 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 22, 1923
- Time
- 20:47:43 UTC
- Place
- Sirjan, Iran
- Magnitude
- 6.7 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 15 km (9 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 29.222° N, 56.839° E
- Country
- Iran
The toll
- Deaths
- 290
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #1138 lists earthquake on Sept 22, 1923, 20:47 UTC, 29.5 N, 56.4 E, magnitude 6.7, 290 deaths in Sirjan.
Reference #130 lists earthquake on Sept 22, 1923, 20:47:38 UTC, 29 N, 56.5 E, magnitude 6.9.
Reference #1117 lists earthquake on Sept 22, 1923, 20:47 UTC, 29.51 N, 56.63 E, magnitude 6.7.
Reference #1126 lists earthquake on Sept 22, 1923, 20:47:43.9 UTC, 29.2 N, 56.9 E, magnitude 6.9.
Reference #1120 lists 260 deaths in Qaleh Asgar region.
Reference #10476 lists earthquake on Sept 22, 1923, 20:47:43.76 UTC, 29.222 N, 56.839 E, magnitude 6.72 (Mw), depth 15 km
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 26, 2003, Bam, Baravat, Southeastern, Iran
- July 28, 1981, SE, Kerman, Iran
- June 11, 1981, Golbaft, SE, Iran
- April 18, 1911, Ravar, Iran
- February 22, 2005, Zarand, Kerman Province, Iran
- December 19, 1977, Bab-Tangol, Iran
- March 21, 1977, Bandar Abbas, Iran
- November 6, 1990, S, Darab, Iran
- March 7, 1975, Sarkhun,qaleh Qazi,qadhad,nong-E-Bala, Iran
- March 14, 1998, Golbaf, Baft, Kerman, Iran
- July 29, 1963, Gahkom,laigazan,patkuiyeh,golruiyeh,ganj, Iran
- November 20, 1989, Shahdad, Kerman Province, Iran
- November 14, 2021, Hormozgan Province, Iran
- March 4, 1999, Kerman, Southern, Iran
- April 12, 1971, Tazarj,barghany,madanuiyeh,baraftab,daragah, Iran
More
Significant earthquakes of 1923The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1923Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 3233.