April 10, 1972 Earthquake: Qir,karzin, Jahrom, Firuzabad, Iran

April 10, 1972, 02:06:51.85 UTC, 28.415 N, 52.765 E, magnitude 6.6 (Mw). (ref #10476)

April 10, 1972, 02:06:53.2 UTC, 28.4 N, 52.8 E, shallow depth, magnitude 6.1 mb, 6.9 MS. southern Iran. 5054 killed and many injured. Qir completely destroyed. Damaged region extended over 1000 sq km. Felt widely in southern Iran.(ref #1053)

On April 10, 1972, for the fourth time in the last 15 years, Iran was shocked by a major earthquake and the resulting loss of life and property. Over 30,000 lives were lost, and numerous villages were totally destroyed by the four disasters [1957, 1962, 1968, 1972]. Nearly 100 villages, located within 50 km of the center of damage, were seriously affected by the shock. About 90 per cent of the buildings, primarily residences, in the area were damaged. Of a total population of about 23,000 people, nearly 5400 were killed, about 1700 injured during the earthquake. Population in the epicentral region is concentrated in two valleys, each about 7 by 20 km in extent, separated by a low (~ 400 m) ridge. General destruction occurred throughout this area, encompassing the major town of Qir (pre-earthquake population 5068, 3399 killed), and the village groups of the Karzin area to the east and the Afzar area in the valley to the southwest. Destruction of buildings was essentially total in these areas, where about one fourth of the population perished. The earthquake was generally felt in the major city of Shiraz (population around 250,000) to the north, where intensity would appear to have been around MM III. At Jahrom to the east and Firuzabad to the northwest, both major towns about 75 km from the epicenter, some damage occurred. In Jahrom, several houses collapsed and some other buildings suffered cracking. Intensity was about MM V. Effects in Firuzabad were reportedly similar, without serious damage. At greater distances, the earthquake was felt to a radius of about 400 km, an area of some 500,000 sq km. It was generally felt at Shiraz (160 km) and was reported felt in Bandar Abbas (about 350 km). (ref #4087)

A heavy toll was taken by the earthquake of 10 April 1972 in the province of Fars (Iran): 5,374 persons killed, 1,710 injured, 45 villages completely destroyed, 64 others damaged, in an area 100km long and 30 km wide. The epicentral area lies in the Zagros mountains, in a zone of very recent folding due to compression connected with the opening of the Red Sea and the drift of Africa towards the north-east. [...] The epicentral area, in which intensity IX was reached and probably exceeded, is relatively thinly populated; loss of life occurred mainly in the town of Ghir, where 75 per cent of the population was killed (3,069 dead); the town itself was completely destroyed. 400 persons were reported killed at Gavaki, 300 at Bayan and 150 at Sag Ravan. The zone of maximum intensity is elongated in a NW.-SE. direction, parallel to the tectonic features of the region [...]The shock was widely felt at Lar, Shiraz, Kazerun and Jahrom. It was preceded by a foreshock on 3 April at 08.06 h (28.5 N., 52.6 E.; m: 4.7) and followed by numerous aftershocks. (ref #1039)

Ref #1250 lists $1 million damage

Ref #12864 lists $8 million damage

5010 deaths (ref #3937, 12864)

5400 deaths (ref #1138)

5054 deaths (ref #45)