Significant earthquakes of 1983

March 25, 1983 Earthquake: Tehran, Damavond, Amoi, Iran

March 25, 1983 · M4.9 · 30 deaths · $5 million

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Tehran, Damavond, Amoi, Iran on March 25, 1983 at 11:57:49 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 30 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
March 25, 1983
Time
11:57:49 UTC
Place
Tehran, Damavond, Amoi, Iran
Magnitude
4.9 (Ms)
Focal depth
33 km (21 mi)
Intensity
6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
35.953° N, 52.264° E
Country
Iran

The toll

Deaths
30
Injuries
61
Damage
$5 million
Houses damaged
Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

Thirty people killed and 61 injured, many homes damaged and landslides in the Damavand-Amol area. Felt at Tehran. (reference #1053)

Thirty killed, 60 injured, $5 million damage. (reference #1250)

100 killed, 61 injured, magnitude 4.9 (Ms), MMI 6, 7 villages destroyed. (reference #12864)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1983The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1983Recent 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 4967.