iranian red crescent

This bulletin is being issued for information, and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), has determined that external assistance is not required at this moment, and is therefore not seeking funding or other assistance from donors and the International Movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at this time.

An earthquake with the magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked Goharan District, Sardasht, Bandar-e Jask, in Hormozgan province, Iran on 11 May 2013.

As per Tehran University’s Seismological Center, the earthquake hit at 06:38 AM local time. The earthquake happened at the depth of 15 Km of the ground with 16 aftershocks.

So far, 6 villages of Goharan district calling Irar, Tidar, Kalahou, Shib Kolah, Sar haour and Kouhe Sefid together with Bashagard were the most quake hit areas.

Furthermore, two other earthquakes measuring 4.8 and 4.7 on the Richter scale shook Minab city, Hormozgan province on the same day.

The situation

As per latest from the field, 20 people were injured and no death toll has been reported. There have been cracks in the walls of houses of the aforesaid villages and possibility of damage in some other villages. Preliminary assessments conducted by IRCS Sardasht, hormozgan province with the help of auxiliary provinces which included 10 assessment teams.

Red Crescent action

From the first instant of happening the earthquake, the emergency meeting was held in Emergency Operation Center (E.O.C.) of IRCS Relief and Rescue Organization, and operation teams from Tehran, Sistan va Baluchistan, Fars, Bushehr, Kerman provinces and 5 additional provinces in terms of 18 teams  which consists of 90 relief workers were immediately dispatched to the affected areas and swung into actions.

Pointing to locating people in safe areas, Relief and Rescue Organization backed by air relief (3 helicopters), search & rescue workers, sniffer dogs as well as rescue tools were forwarded to the affected areas.

Current situation

Search and rescue operation has been initiated at first instant and it is being conducted by auxiliary provinces. So far, 400 relief tents have been distributed among the affected people.

Contact information

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

Davood Pourkhanali

Director General

International Operations & Humanitarian Programs

Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS)

www.rcs.ir

E-mail: intdep@rcs.ir

Phone: +98 21 88662618-9,

Fax +98 21 88201052.