On June 21, 1990, one of the most devastating earthquakes ever documented in human history struck Iran with catastrophic force. Known as the 7.7 Manjil-Rudbar earthquake, it tore through the northwest region of the country, unleashing massive destruction and claiming an staggering number of lives.
The earthquake hit at 12:30 AM, a time when the vast majority of residents were asleep in their homes, completely unaware of the impending catastrophe. Whole cities were turned to rubble in moments, and the scale of devastation was so immense that the Iranian government found itself compelled to accept assistance from western nations — a remarkable step given the political tensions that existed at the time.
Quick Facts About the Manjil-Rudbar Earthquake:
- The death toll reached at least 50,00 people.
- According to the National Geophysical Data Center, the damage inflicted on affected areas totaled approximately $8 billion.
- Despite the urgent need for ongoing critical assistance, Iran made the decision to send relief workers from the US and other western nations back to their countries.
- So powerful were the aftershocks that they caused a dam located in Rasht to burst.
- Beyond the fatalities, an estimated 60,000-105,000 people sustained injuries. Pinning down exact figures for these statistics remains impossible, particularly when you consider that some victims buried beneath the debris may never have been recovered.
- While the Iranian government did accept aid from the USA, it turned down offers of help from both South Africa and Israel.