July 9, 1998 Earthquake: Astara, Bilasuvar, Imisli, Armenia-Azerbaijan-Iran
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Astara, Bilasuvar, Imisli, Armenia-Azerbaijan-Iran on July 9, 1998 at 14:19:18 UTC, 26 km below the surface.
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
- July 9, 1998
- Time
- 14:19:18 UTC
- Place
- Astara, Bilasuvar, Imisli, Armenia-Azerbaijan-Iran
- Magnitude
- 6 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 26 km (16 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 38.717° N, 48.507° E
- Country
- Armenia
The toll
- 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.
1998, July 9. Extensive damage at Astara, Bilasuvar, Imisli,
Lankaran, Masalli and Yardimli, Azerbaijan. Felt at Baku,
Azerbaijan. Felt (V) at Goris, Armenia. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- April 26, 1721, Tabriz, Iran
- December 27, 1779, Tabriz, Iran
- March 22, 1879, Bozqush, Ardabil, Gamrud, Tark, Manan, Iran
- February 28, 1997, Ardabil, 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
- November 4, 1978, Rasht, Siahbil, Iran
- February 10, 1965, Northwestern Iran
- November 7, 2019, Miyaneh, Iran
- April 2, 1983, Kum-Dag, Turkmenistan
- 891, Ardabil, Iran
- January 2, 1863, Bulgavar (SE Ardabil), Iran
- May 11, 2017, Ardabil, Iran, Azerbaijan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1998The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1998Recent 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 5499.