1970 Dagestan earthquake
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 Gimry villages after the earthquake. | |
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| UTC time | 1970-05-14 18:12:26 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 795586 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | May 14, 1970 |
| Local time | 21:12:26 (UTC+03:00) |
| Magnitude | 6.7 Mw[1] |
| Depth | 13.0 km (8.1 mi) |
| Epicenter | 43°11′28″N 47°08′24″E / 43.191°N 47.140°E |
| Areas affected | Dagestan, Soviet Union |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe)[2] |
| Foreshocks | 6.1 Mw[3] at 09:20 (UTC) |
| Casualties | 31 dead, 1,000+ injured |
The 1970 Dagestan earthquake occurred on May 14 at 21:12 MSK, in the Republic of Dagestan, Soviet Union. It had a moment magnitude of 6.7, and a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). It was preceded by foreshocks a few hours earlier. The epicenter was located on the territory of the Buynaksky District. As a result of the event, 25 percent of the territory of the republic was affected. The earthquake completely destroyed 257 settlements, including the cities of Makhachkala, Buynaksk, Kaspiysk, Khasavyurt and Kizilyurt. It caused at least 31 fatalities and up to 1,000 injured.[4]
The Caucasus region has a history of major earthquakes including the devastating 1988 Armenian earthquake, due to the tectonic relationship between the Eurasian and Arabian Plates. The earthquake of 1970 is the largest in the region since 1902.[5] According to the Zarya Vostoka, a newspaper based on Tbilisi, the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of VIII and was felt across the Caucasus.[2]