1972 Iran blizzard

The Iran Blizzard of February 1972 resulted in the deaths of approximately 4,000 people.^[1] A week-long period of low temperatures and winter storms, lasting from February 3 to February 9, 1972, dumped more than ten feet (3 metres) of snow across rural areas in northwestern, central and southern Iran.

Southern Iran sustained as much as 26 feet (8 metres) of snow, burying at least 4,000 villagers. According to contemporary reports by the newspaper Ettela'at, the city of Ardakan and outlying villages were hardest hit, with no survivors in Kakkan or Kumar. In the northwest, near the border with Turkey, the village of Sheklab and its 100 inhabitants were buried.^[2]

This blizzard remains the deadliest in history.

See also

• List of natural disasters
• Geography of Iran
• List of earthquakes in Iran
• International rankings of Iran

References

1. ^ NOAA's Top Global Weather; Water and Climate Events of The 20th Century
2. ^ "MISSING PUT AT 6,000 IN IRANIAN BLIZZARD", New York Times, February 11, 1972, p4; "Thousands Missing in Iran Snow", Oakland Tribune, February 10, 1972, p1;