At least seven people were killed in an earthquake in Iran on
Thursday near the city of Bushehr, where the country's sole
nuclear power plant is situated, state news agency IRNA
reported.
The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.6, struck about
40 miles (60 km) northeast of Bushehr on the Gulf coast,
according to US Geological Survey data. No damage to the
nuclear plant was reported.
IRNA said seven people had died, and quoted the governor
of Bushehr saying there was "total calm" in the area. Relief
teams had been sent to the affected towns and villages, he
said.
Helicopters will be dispatched on Friday to assess the
damage, said Fars news agency, which put the death toll
slightly higher, at eight.
Hossein Derakhshan, a spokesman for the Red Crescent, said
there had been some damage to houses in the area because
they were traditionally built and not earthquake-proof,
according to news agency ISNA.
When the quake struck at a depth of 10.2 miles earlier on
Thursday, there were reports on social media in Saudi
Arabia that it was felt in the kingdom's eastern province,
across the Gulf from Iran.
Iran sits on major geological faultlines and has suffered
several big earthquakes in recent years. Less than one week
ago, an earthquake measuring 5.4 in magnitude struck
western Iran near its border with Iraq.
Thursday near the city of Bushehr, where the country's sole
nuclear power plant is situated, state news agency IRNA
reported.
The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.6, struck about
40 miles (60 km) northeast of Bushehr on the Gulf coast,
according to US Geological Survey data. No damage to the
nuclear plant was reported.
IRNA said seven people had died, and quoted the governor
of Bushehr saying there was "total calm" in the area. Relief
teams had been sent to the affected towns and villages, he
said.
Helicopters will be dispatched on Friday to assess the
damage, said Fars news agency, which put the death toll
slightly higher, at eight.
Hossein Derakhshan, a spokesman for the Red Crescent, said
there had been some damage to houses in the area because
they were traditionally built and not earthquake-proof,
according to news agency ISNA.
When the quake struck at a depth of 10.2 miles earlier on
Thursday, there were reports on social media in Saudi
Arabia that it was felt in the kingdom's eastern province,
across the Gulf from Iran.
Iran sits on major geological faultlines and has suffered
several big earthquakes in recent years. Less than one week
ago, an earthquake measuring 5.4 in magnitude struck
western Iran near its border with Iraq.
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