Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, M. Mehrain, Dames and Moore. |
Wall crack caused when soils liquefied and building settled during the earthquake. Soils liquefy when ground water near the surface is forced between the grains of sand during an earthquake. The sandy soil behaves like a very thick liquid. Structures then settle or tip in the liquefied soil or are ripped apart as the ground spreads laterally or flows. Image Credit: M. Mehrain. Dames and Moore June 20, 1990 Northern Iran earthquake A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred in the Gilan Province between the towns of Rudbar and Manjil in northern Iran on Thursday, June 21, 1990 (June 20 at 21:00 GMT). The event, the largest ever to be recorded in that part of the Caspian Sea region, may have been composed of two or more closely-spaced earthquakes occurring in rapid succession. These quakes, exceptionally close to the surface for this region, were also unusually destructive. Event Data:
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