Over 700 injured after magnitude 6.3 earthquake shakes western Iran
- Iranian media reports there are no fatalities after quake hits near country’s border with Iraq
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Iran near its border with Iraq on Sunday night, injuring more than 700 people and sending fearful residents running into the streets, authorities said.
The Sunday temblor hit near Sarpol-e Zahab in Iran’s Kermanshah province, which was the epicentre of an earthquake last year that killed more than 600 people and where some are still homeless.
State television, citing the emergency services, said that 716 people had been injured, but there were no reports of deaths or major damage.
Authorities said dozens of rescue teams were immediately deployed after the quake stopped and the country’s army and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were responding.
Officials reported damage at buildings both in town and in rural Kermanshah, as well as to some roadways. The temblor also downed power lines and caused power outages into the night as temperatures hovered around 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit).
The quake struck just after 8pm in Iran, meaning most were still awake at the time and able to quickly flee.