Moderate quake rocks southern Iran

Officials say they have received no reports of casualties after a moderate 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan.

The Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC) recorded the quake in the town of Jenah, some 104 miles (167 km) west of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, shortly after 06:41 local time (0210 GMT).

The quake struck Jenah at a depth of 28 km, rocking nearby villages, Provincial Crisis Management Authority Ahmad Gheibi said on Tuesday.

“This morning’s quake in Jenah has caused no damages so far,” Gheibi told Mehr News Agency, adding that rescue teams were on standby.

Iran is located on major seismic fault lines, causing the country to often experience at least one earthquake a day.

Last month, an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hit the northern province of Semnan. The incident left two children dead and devastated at least three villages.