Region | Iran
7.5 magnitude earthquake rocks southern Iran
Iran says 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits the country's south, with tremors felt across the Gulf in the UAE.
- Staff Report
- Published: 16:22 September 10, 2008
- Image Credit:
- The US Geological Service said the earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale and struck near Bandar Abbas, where a major oil refinery is located
Tehran: A 7.5-magnitude earthquake has struck southern Iran, according to Iran's Fars News Agency.
Iranian TV says one person has died and 15 injured, according to initial reports.
The US Geological Service said the earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale and struck near Bandar Abbas, where a major oil refinery is located. The USGS said the quake hit at 1100GMT about 53 km (33 miles) west-southwest of Bandar Abbas at a depth of 34.6 miles (55 km).
The USGC said an aftershock measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck just 30 minutes later, about 30 kilometres west of Qishm Island.
Meanwhile, residents in Dubai reported feeling tremors around the city. The Civil Defence Authority has sent teams to various locations.
A number of seismological fault lines cross Iran. In 2003, about 31,000 people were killed when a tremor struck the historic city of Bam, 1,000 km (600 miles) southeast of Tehran.
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