1978 Tabas earthquake

Earthquake
title=1978 Tabas earthquake
date= September 16, 1978


magnitude = 7.8 M_w [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_deaths.php US Geological Survey] ]
depth=
location=coord|33.2|N|57.4|E
countries affected = IRN
casualties = ~15,000 dead [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_deaths.php US Geological Survey] ] On September 16, 1978, a huge earthquake struck, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. The death toll was around 26000Fact|date=June 2008 and the worst damage was to the town Tabas, which was at the epicentre of the quake and completely flattened. 40 villages within a 30 mile radius were damaged. 9,000 of the 13,000 population were killed [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_deaths.php US Geological Survey] ] , leaving only 4,000 living in the town. All the town's doctors were reported to have died, leaving civilians to treat others. All water and electricity was cut from Tabas, along with phone lines. The nearest accessible place to gain water was the town of Mashad, a nine hour drive away.

The earthquake lasted around three minutes, making it extremely dangerousFact|date=June 2008. Compared to the normal 10 - 20 seconds that a normal earthquake lasts for, the power of this earthquake is shown. It struck at 19:38 local time. After the quake, there was lots of disease from dead bodies so many bodies were not buried in a cemetery but buried where they were found.

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