28 Nov 2010

5.6 earthquake in Iran

7:45 am on 28 November 2010

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake has occurred in southern Iran.

It happened in a mountainous area of Fars province, and the country's official news agency says there are no reports of casualties.

The quake took place at 4.03am local time (1233 GMT) on Friday near Firouzabad in the Fars province.

The United States Geological Survey said it was 10.1km deep.

USGS recorded the location as being nearly 200km east-southeast of Bushehr, where Iran has a nuclear power station.

Iranian media also reported a 3.9 earthquake in a nearby area at 1323 GMT.

Iran frequently has earthquakes. In 2003, the desert citadel city of Bam was flattened and 31,000 people were killed.