Manjil–Rudbar Earthquake · Zelzeleh-ye Manjil

Culture of origin: Iranian · Historical

Holiday sources: Gilak · Iran

Thirty minutes after midnight, while most people slept in basic mud homes, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Caspian region of northern Iran, devastating some 20,000 km² including the cities of Rudbar and Manjil. Between 35,000 and 50,000 people died, 60,000–105,000 were injured and about 400,000 were left homeless. The next morning a magnitude 6.5 aftershock hit Rasht and broke a dam, and more than 200 landslides cut roads.