5.5-magnitude quake strikes southern Iran, kills 1

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale has jolted southern Iran, killing at least one person.

The quake hit the Bastak region in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province at 6:43 a.m. local time (0313 GMT) on Thursday, according to the Iranian Seismological Center.

Another earthquake registering 4.5 on the Richter scale soon hit the area, followed by numerous aftershocks.

The 5.5-magnitude quake left at least one person dead and 30 others injured, said Bastak Governor Mohammad Moshtaqzadeh.

The quake also caused power outages and disrupted landline telephone services in the region, he noted.

The temblor has partly damaged houses, forcing residents to stay outdoors amid fears of more possible aftershocks.

Five relief and rescue teams have been dispatched to the quake-stricken areas so far, said Head of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Pirhossein Koulivand.

Located on seismic fault lines, Iran is prone to earthquakes and experiences at least one slight tremor every day on average.

The deadliest earthquake to hit Iran in recent years struck the country on December 26, 2003. Back then, a 6.6-magnitude quake jolted the city of Bam and its surrounding areas in the southeastern province of Kerman, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and injured.