Earthquakes strike Iran’s Kohgiluyeh county, Japan’s Hokkaido within 24 hours

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook Kohgiluyeh County in the early hours of May 27, causing no reported casualties, officials confirmed.

The quake struck at 4:14 am local time at a depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 14 kilometres from the city of Dehdasht, the provincial capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad in southwestern Iran, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

The tremors were also felt in neighbouring areas, including Lendeh and Behbahan in Khuzestan Province.

Alireza Nikrouz, Director General of Crisis Management for Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, said that assessment teams and rescue units have been deployed to evaluate any potential damage to buildings and infrastructure.

“So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported,” Nikrouz said. “However, given the intensity of the earthquake, there is a possibility of damage to older urban and rural structures.”

All emergency services and relevant agencies remain on high alert to assist as needed.

Dehdasht, home to over 75,000 residents, is the centre of Kohgiluyeh County, which has a total population of approximately 132,000.

Meanwhile, two earthquakes struck Japan’s Hokkaido island within 24 hours, registering magnitudes of 5.1 and 4.4. The first occurred on May 26 evening at a depth of 54 km in southern Hokkaido, followed by a 4.4 tremor early on May 27 at 42 km. 

No impact was reported in nearby Sakhalin settlements, according to the Sakhalin branch of Russia’s Unified Geophysical Service.

By Aghakazim Guliyev