February 28, 1997 Earthquake: Ardabil, Iran
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Ardabil, Iran on February 28, 1997 at 12:57:18 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 1,100 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
- February 28, 1997
- Time
- 12:57:18 UTC
- Place
- Ardabil, Iran
- Magnitude
- 6.1 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 38.075° N, 48.050° E
- Country
- Iran
The toll
- Deaths
- 1,100
- Injuries
- 2,600
- Damage
- $76 million
- Houses destroyed
- 12,000
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.
At least 1,100 people killed, 2,600 injured, 36,000 homeless, 12,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 160,000 livestock killed in the Ardabil region of northwestern Iran. Severe damage to roads, electrical power lines, communications and water distribution systems in that area. (reference #1053)
954 people killed, 2600 injured, 112 villages destroyed, 13 500 houses destroyed, 132m USD losses, magnitude 6.1 (Ms) and 6 (Mw), MMI 8. (reference #12864)
Reference #1250 lists $76 million damage and 1100 deaths and 2600 injured.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- November 18, 1727, Tabriz, Iran
- November 4, 1042, Tabriz, Iran
- January 8, 1780, Tabriz, Iran
- April 26, 1721, Tabriz, Iran
- August 21, 1042, Tabriz, Iran
- June 20, 1990, Rasht, Qazvin, Zanjan, Rudbar, Manjil, Iran
- February 5, 1641, Tabriz, Kurdistan, Iran
- December 27, 1779, Tabriz, Iran
- March 22, 1879, Bozqush, Ardabil, Gamrud, Tark, Manan, Iran
- 1664, Tabriz, Iran
- January 3, 1864, Lenkoran, Niar, Ardabil, Azerbaijan, Iran
- December 1863, Nir,ardabil, Iran
- August 11, 2012, Ahar, Haris, Varzagan, Iran
- January 2, 1896, Sangabad (Senjabad), Iran
- July 29, 1272, Tabriz, Iran
More
Significant earthquakes of 1997The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1997Recent 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 5450.