1932 Mazandaran earthquake
1932 earthquake in northern Iran
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The 1932 Mazandaran earthquake struck Mazandaran province in northern Iran on May 20, 1932. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.4, a focal depth of 12 km (7.5 mi), and a maximum intensity of VIII on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.[1] The event was listed in the historical database as the Torbet-i-Kheydarly earthquake.[1] It killed 1,070 people and caused major damage in the affected area.[1]
Tectonic setting
Mazandaran lies along the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, north of the Alborz mountain belt. The Alborz is one of the active seismic regions of northern Iran, shaped by deformation between central Iran and the South Caspian region.[2]
The eastern and central Alborz contain several active faults, and the causative faults of historical earthquakes in this region are often difficult to identify. A later study of large 1930s earthquakes in eastern Mazandaran discussed the Qadikola, Chachkam, North Alborz and Lalehband faults as possible sources for nearby destructive events.[3]
Earthquake
The earthquake occurred at 19:16 UTC. Its epicenter was listed at 36.600° N, 53.400° E, in Mazandaran province. The historical listing gives no instrumental moment tensor, rupture length, or named causative fault. Although its magnitude was moderate, the shallow depth and vulnerable local building stock made the event highly destructive. It was the deadliest earthquake recorded worldwide in 1932.[1]
Impact
The earthquake killed 1,070 people. The loss of life was severe for a rural district: homes failed in large numbers, and the damage was concentrated in communities with little protection against strong ground shaking.[1]
