An earthquake struck northern Iran's Khorasan Province in the vicinity of Qaen on May 10, 1997, at 07:57 UTC. The largest in the area since 1990, the earthquake registered 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale and was centered approximately 270 kilometers (170 mi) south of Mashhad on the village of Ardekul. The third earthquake that year to cause severe damage, it devastated the Birjand–Qayen region, killing 1,567 and injuring more than 2,300. The earthquake—which left 50,000 homeless and damaged or destroyed over 15,000 homes—was described as the deadliest of 1997 by the United States Geological Survey. Some 155 aftershocks caused further destruction and drove away survivors. The earthquake was later discovered to have been caused by a rupture along a fault that runs underneath the Iran–Afghanistan border.
An earthquake registering 7.3 Mw struck near Qaen, Iran, killing at least 1,567 and leaving around 50,000 others homeless.
On May 10, in the year 1997, An earthquake registering 7.3 Mw struck near Qaen, Iran, killing at least 1,567 and leaving around 50,000 others homeless. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of May 10, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on May 10, 1997 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 23 January 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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