Earthquake in Iran
- Duration
- 15 May 1997 - 16 May 1997
- Military personnel
- 4
- Fatalities
- none
- Decorations
- none
From February 1997, Iran was struck by several earthquakes in the space of a few months. 2 major earthquakes near the town of Bojnurd in the middle of February left 38 people dead.
2 weeks later, on February 28, an earthquake hit the province of Ostan e Ardabil, as a result of which around 1.000 people were killed. When northeastern Iran was hit by yet another earthquake on 10 May 1997, the damage turned out to be so extensive that the country had to ask the international community for help. In this last quake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, 2.500 people are estimated to have lost their lives. The town of Masjhad was particularly badly hit.
Relief supplies
The Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation asked the Royal Netherlands Air Force to fly in relief supplies that had been provided by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA).