July 30, 1970 Earthquake: Karnaveh, Marev, Iran

The Kerrnaveh earthquake of 30 July 1970 occurred in north eastern Iran, not far from the borders of Turkestan, at about 4.30 a.m. local time (00h 52m 19s GMT). The epicentre of the earthquake was computed by several seismological centers with the following results: BCIS 37.9 N, 55.9 E; USCGS, 37.8 N - 55.9 E. The magnitude of the shock calculated by different stations varied between 6.3 and 6.7 (MS).

The shock was felt over an area of about 100,000 square kilometres, and preliminary focal depth determinations indicate a very shallow focus, less than 20 kilometres deep. There were comparatively few aftershocks, all of low magnitude, which added very little to the damage caused by the main shock.

The Karnaveh earthquake occurred in the upper reaches of the Gorgan River, in what used to be called eastern Sahra-i-Turlonan, a rather isolated and thinly populated area south of the River Atrek. The main shock affected an area of about 7,000 square kilometres with a population density of about two per square kilometre. The exact number of people killed is not known but it is probably between 180 and 250. More than 450 people were injured and about 2,000 housing units were destroyed or damaged in 40 villages and settlements.

The earthquake occurred very early in the morning when most of the men were at dawn prayers in the open courtyards and it was mainly women and children who were killed. The largest settlements in the area affected by the earthquake were Karnaveh, Agheman, Chenaran, Gholidagh Shabrak and Yemlak. A number of smaller settlements however, such as Baba Shamalakand Meydanjik, situated in the middle of a barren region, suffered greater damage.

With very few exceptions, all houses in the affected region are of adobe brick or mud-wall construction, with flat roofs made from timber beams and covered with a mud/straw mixture. There are very few well-built houses and no other construction that could serve as a measure for assessing intensities. Thus from the behaviour of local houses alone we could not determine intensities greater than about VII (MM). There is some indirect evidence, however, indicating that the maximum intensity did not exceed VIII (MM).

(above from reference #3652)

July 30, 1970, 00:52:19.5, 37.8 N, 55.9 E, Iran-USSR border, depth 19 km, magnitude 6.6 MS. 176 killed, 483 injured, 10,000 homeless and extensive property damage in cities of northwestern Khorasan Province, Iran. (reference #45)

July 30, 1970, 00:52:19 UTC, 37.81 N, 55.92 E, depth 16 km, 6.7 MS, intensity VIII-IX. Marav (Iran) 5105 houses damaged and destroyed in 108 villages; 176 dead, 483 injured. (reference #223)

July 30, 1970, $8 million damage. (reference #1250)

200 deaths and severe damage. (reference #1191)

July 30, 1970, 00:52 UTC, 37.8 N, 55.9 E, magnitude 6.7, 220 deaths. (reference #1138)