Attachments
According to the Iranian Seismological Centre, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit Sayeh Khosh village near Khamir port in Hormozgan province of South Iran on 2nd July 2022 at 02:02 am local time followed by 81 aftershocks (the biggest one with 6.1 Richter at 03:55 local time has hit the region). The affected area consisted of one city and 55 villages, with a total population of approx. 5,318 households (22,216 people). In addition, affected cities in the surrounding area included Khamir Port, Kang, Lengeh Port, Qeshm, and Kish Islands. According to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), 84 individuals were injured and 5 died in this disaster. Quake-affected people in the region preferred to stay outside overnight in the following days as aftershocks continued. Many buildings had been damaged, and some infrastructures were destroyed. Cracks on the walls of buildings could be seen primarily in the villages near the epicenter and surrounding areas. The worst affected villages were Kooshk, Konkh, Berke Seflin, Saye Khosh, Gavmiri, Chahderaz, Tang Sim, Doab, Basaeidoo, Chah Sahrghi, and Gooran.
Summary of response
Overview of Host National Society
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) was established in 1922 and became affiliated with the IFRC in 1924. It has over 8,500 staff and some 1.5 million volunteers, being active through the Youth Organization, the Volunteers Organization, and the Relief & Rescue Organization. IRCS has 500 local branches across the country. The National Society has a strong auxiliary link to the Government. It’s mandated, under the Law on Crisis Management, to conduct search & rescue activities, and relief services and to provide emergency shelter. In addition, the IRCS is responsible for raising public awareness of disaster preparedness, including the provision of related educational activities.
Since the onset of the floods, the IRCS Relief and Rescue Organization Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to manage and coordinate the response operations at the Headquarters (HQ) level with the field support of provincial EOCs in the affected provinces, which were operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7).
The emergency operations centers (EOCs) at the provincial and headquarters levels were activated as soon as the seismological center reported the event. The EOC in the relief and rescue organization managed and coordinated the operation with the EOCs in Hormozgan, Fars, Kerman, and Bousher provinces. Operational teams from the two provinces of Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Abbas were deployed and the teams from neighboring provinces were on alert/standby. 18 assessment teams, 46 operational teams (187 personnel), 3 rescue choppers, 41 rescue vehicles, and 4 search and rescue dogs’ teams, plus 2 (SAHAR) PSS teams immediately deployed to the field to support the operation. The EOCs' video connection was set to maintain a close connection with the field.
Moreover, continuous data exchange was established at the provincial level with the EMS and road department command centers. Helal House public teams conducted the initial assessment at the community level, allowing operational teams to focus on the most affected areas. Three rescue helicopters were also deployed to rescue and transfer those in need. An emergency camp was set up in the main gym in Bandar Abbas city. A Rubb Hall operational tent was also erected to accommodate affected families. Household items including 2,000 tents, 7,500 blankets, and 4,000 ground sheets were sent from the neighboring provinces to the IRCS Hormozgan branch. For the first 72 hours, 2,620 food parcels were delivered to the Hormozgan IRCS Branch. Overall, the IRCS distributed relief items including 1,857 tents (1,857 HHs or 7,548 individuals), 1,356 ground sheets, and 2,712 food packages. In addition, 1,000 bread loaves, 2,000 bottles of mineral water, and 2,000 canned foods were distributed by the volunteer organization affiliated with the IRCS.