Iranian Earthquake -- is it real?

[allan]

More than 45 dead in the Iranian earthquake (http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040530-091247-2470r.htm):


The death toll in Iran's earthquake has increased to 45 as rescue workers discover more bodies, officials said Sunday.

The quake jolted a wide mountainous region north of Tehran Friday, causing extensive damage.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency said more than 400 people have been injured in the provinces of Qazvin and Mazandaran. Qazin's governor and five other officials were also killed Saturday when their helicopter crashed while they were flying over the affected area.


Now, I don't want to dig out my tinfoil hat here, but this is the second major earthquake in Iran (remeber Bam) in 6 months. Prior to that, I don't ever remember hearing about earthquakes.

It makes me wonder because underground nuclear weapon testing has the same effect as an earthquake. I am sure the seismological readings are different, but I don't know that anyone, outside of Iran, has seen them.

Is it possible that Iran is engaging in underground nuclear testing?

[ukangel]

I guess its possible, it would mean that their nuclear program is way more advanced than we thought though. And would they go for underground tests anyway? NK didnt.

[Oliphaunt]

Pakistan adn India did..

interesting theory.. i'm sure soem scary people in black suits are lookign it all over..

[Djj1973]

Iran does sit on two different tectonic plates. (http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/plates.html) It is possible that they have quakes there.

[Michele]

interesting points... hmmm the suggestion that nuclear testing is being conducted where underground? well that is interesting...

I heard about this one on a very brief radio report... I wonder if the other one was large enough that either this is an after shock or as DJJ's post might suggest a kind of chain reaction due to these two plates?

[CyNix]

Is it possible that Iran is engaging in underground nuclear testing?
I doubt that they would test nukes under populated regions.

[allan]

Iran does sit on two different tectonic plates. (http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/plates.html) It is possible that they have quakes there.

Of course, the most likely explanation is that these are simply earthquakes. I just don't ever remember hearing about earthquakes of this magnitude in Iran prior to Bam -- but my memory could also be faulty.

[allan]

I doubt that they would test nukes under populated regions.


They wouldn't have to test under populated areas for the earthquakes to occur there.

[Michele]

allan,

for what it is worth considering the lengths both Israel and the US have gone in the last year or so to accuse Iran of being an nuclear threat to the world (and believe me I know because I have all the articles on this going back to the early nineties), if there was even a hint that Iran was nuclear testing we would have most definitely heard about it now from either Israel or the US as PROOF Iran was this threat that both have on and off say Iran is, but there have been no such reports.

In fact, I am actually surprised now that I mention this, that neither parties haven't just made that up yet. I think it is safe to say that if Iran was nuclear testing or even if there was the remotest hint of this.... there would have already come accusations along those lines. Remember Iran is on the hit list for pre-emptively striking.

[Michele]

and according to this article:

The Bam earthquake of December 26, 2003 with a magnitude of 6.6 Richter is one of several deadly tremors that have repeatedly struck Iran's towns and villages throughout its modern and ancient history. Understanding the geologic forces behind this tremendous natural hazard is of fundamental importance to any risk assessment or loss prevention efforts in the region.

http://www.payvand.com/news/04/jan/1109.html

[allan]

The Bam earthquake of December 26, 2003 with a magnitude of 6.6 Richter is one of several deadly tremors that have repeatedly struck Iran's towns and villages throughout its modern and ancient history. Understanding the geologic forces behind this tremendous natural hazard is of fundamental importance to any risk assessment or loss prevention efforts in the region.


ahhh...I had not seen that article :). None of the articles I saw mentioned the history of earthquakes in Iran. It's good to have the full story.