A shallow earthquake struck early Sunday about 26 kilometers (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Iran's Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Local media reported that at least two people were killed and 310 were injured.

The mountainous area near the border with Iraq was also the site of a powerful tremor that killed more than 600 people last November.

Read more: Why the ground shakes so often in Iran

Hundreds of people died in a devastating quake that hit Kermanshah province in November 2017

What we know so far

The quake struck at 2:43 a.m. local time (2213 UTC) at a depth of about 10 kilometers, the USGS said.

It was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including two that measured above 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Rescue teams were sent to the city of Tazehabad, where most of the casualties were reported.

According to state television, the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.

Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand said at least 500 buildings were destroyed.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli is expected to travel to the affected area on Monday.

Iraqi state television said the jolt was felt as far away as Baghdad, some 350 kilometers further west.

Read more: Natural disasters drive millions into poverty

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry Most powerful earthquake ever recorded The most powerful earthquake ever recorded hit Chile's coast in May 1960. The quake, 9.5 on the Richter scale, lasted almost 10 minutes, resulting in massive infrastructure damage. Around 5,700 people were killed in Chile while the resulting tsunami left 130 people dead in Japan and another 61 in Hawaii. This picture shows the remains of Corral harbor in Chile's Valdivia province.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry Good Friday earthquake The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, remains the strongest earthquake to hit the US to date. It occured on Good Friday, March 27, across south-central Alaska. The quake and the following tsunamis caused about 139 deaths. The picture above is from a small fishing village on Kodiak Island and it shows debris from houses and boats.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry Most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan A team member from Japan's Rescue Dog Association and his dog search for victims. Northeastern Japan was struck by a devastating earthquake, measuring 9.1 on the moment magnitude scale, followed by a massive tsunami. The natural disasters claimed almost 18,500 lives, and crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, in what is considered the world's worst nuclear power disaster since Chernobyl.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake The undersea megathrust earthquake, magnitude 9.1, triggered a series of devastating tsunamis, killing some 280,000 people in 14 different countries and inundating coastal communities with waves up to a 100 feet. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry Kamchatka earthquake A megathrust earthquake occurred off the coast of Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia on November 4, 1952. The 9.0 magnitude quake caused a tsunami leading to widespread destruction and loss of life around the Kamchatka peninsula and the Kuril Islands. More than 2,300 people were killed.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry 2010 Chile earthquake An 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile in February 2010. It triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano. The quake and the following tsunami resulted in the deaths of around 450 people, while damage to the local fisheries' business was estimated at 66.7 million US dollars.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry China 1976 quake An abandoned railway coach in Tangshan, China after an earthquake devastated the industrial town on July 28, 1976. The quake, measured at 7.4, struck near the industrial city in northeastern Hebei province. The official death toll is given as 242,000 but is believed to be significantly higher. Some estimates put the deathtoll at around 500,000.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry 1920 Haiyuan earthquake The earthquake, measured at 8.3, occurred in the Haiyuan county of the northern province of Ningxia and caused aftershocks for almost three years. As a result, up to 235,000 people died immediately. Many more, who were living in camps due to the continuing aftershocks, perished later due to severe winter conditions.

When Mother Nature gets angry, really angry 2010 Haiti earthquake A man walks amid the rubble of a destroyed building in Port-au-Prince following the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010. With a magnitude of 7.0, the quake destroyed thousands of buildings and left at least 200,000 people dead. Author: Aasim Saleem



Quake-prone area: The Iraq-Iran border region sees frequent seismic activity due to the 1,500 kilometer fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Much of the area affected by Sunday's quake is rugged mountain terrain populated by farmers and hillside villages of earthen brick buildings. Iran has suffered a number of devastating jolts in recent years. In November 2017, a 7.3 magnitude quake killed at least 620 people and injured thousands. In 2003, some 31,000 people were killed by a catastrophic tremor that struck the southeastern city of Bam.

Read more: Fracking makes the earth shake

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Where the earth shakes Seven tectonic plates make up our earth's surface. Where they meet, chances for an earthquake are the highest. In Nepal, the tectonic collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate caused a dramatic quake on April 25, 2015. It's one of the seven places on earth most prone to earthquakes.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Bhaktapur, Nepal (before) In the valley of Kathmandu, seven cultural World Heritage sites draw Nepalese and international visitors alike. Here, people are celebrating the Gaijatra Festival at the historic square in Bhaktapur in August 2014.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Bhaktapur, Nepal (after) Volunteer workers try to rescue people from beneath the ruins of collapsed temples - they have nothing but their bare hands to dig with. The 2015 Nepalese earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Japanese coast (now) Japan is known as an earthquake specialist, building its skyscrapers on moving foundations that can absorb the earth's shocks during a quake. It's also known for its nuclear power plants. In 2010, the Takahama power plant (pictured above, on the other side of the island from Fukushima) was one of 55, producing a third of the country's energy needs.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Japanese coast (then) Japan is more than 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles) from Nepal. But in March 2011, it suffered a similarly disastrous earthquake, causing one of the worst tsunamis Japan has ever seen. More than 18,000 people were declared dead, and meltdowns of nuclear reactors in Fukushima leaked radioactive material into the surrounding area - more than was released in the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean (now) The Andaman Islands, which are part of India, are close to the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian continental plates. Due to the high tectonic tensions, earthquakes are common here.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean (then) The worst of these earthquakes in recent history hit on December 26, 2004. It was the third-strongest quake ever measured. Tsunamis following the quake killed 230,000 people along the coast.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Yunnan, China (before) The Chinese province of Yunnan is known for its breathtaking landscape, its rice terraces - and its earthquake risk. As Yunnan is located on the border between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, tectonic plate tensions can cause severe earthquakes.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Yunnan, China (after) In August 2014, more than 400 people were killed and about 100,000 left homeless by a 6.5-magnitude quake. Strong earthquakes are common in China. In 2008, 70,000 people died after a quake hit in the province of Sichuan.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions L'Aquila, Italy (before) Although Europe is not really known for earthquakes, they are more common than one might think. In Italy, the African plate comes up against the European continent, and the whole country is situated up against the plate boundary.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions L'Aquila, Italy (after) In 2009, a quake killed 300 people and left more than 10,000 homeless in the Italian town of L'Aquila. When seven scientists were convicted of manslaughter for failing to advise of earthquake threats, this raised international critique: Despite the most modern scientific methods, earthquakes cannot be predicted.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions San Francisco, United States (now) The Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco's most prominent landmark. But it is under threat: Scientists say that soon, the worst earthquake in more than 100 years could hit the city, threatening its inhabitants. Culprit here is the San Andreas fault, where the North American plate meets the Pacific plate, just off the Californian coast.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions San Francisco, United States (then) In 1906, San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake and resulting urban fires. To date, the San Francisco quake is said to be one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history - 3,000 to 6,000 people were killed.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Valdivia, Chile (now) Today, nothing in idyllic south-Chilean Valdivia reminds visitors of the earthquake danger. That doesn't make it less real: Just off the Chilean coast, the South American plate hits the Nazca plate. When tensions rise, the earth shakes. As a consequence, tsunamis form.

Earthquakes: The most endangered regions Valdivia, Chile (then) At a magnitude of 9.5, it was the strongest earthquake ever measured: In 1960, the quake destroyed large parts of southern Chile's infrastructure. At least 1,700 people died, while millions were made homeless. The next "big bang" is likely to take place in Chile's northern region. The earth there, scientists say, has been suspiciously quiet for years. Author: Lisa Duhm



nm/aw (Reuters, AP, dpa)

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.</s>At least two people were killed and 241 others injured when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck in western Iran’s Kermanshah province early Sunday, government news agency IRNA reported.

The epicenter of the quake was 6 miles from Tazehabad and 19 miles from Javanrud. Both cities are close to the Iran-Iraq border. The earthquake struck at a depth of some 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Iran’s Emergency and Natural Disaster Agency told state-run Press TV that five rescue teams have been sent to the area.

Press TV, an English-language television station in Iran, tweeted that people were rushed to the hospital, though there were no immediate casualty figures.

Residents in Baghdad, in neighboring Iraq, told CNN they felt the capital city shake. Baghdad is 342 kilometers, or more than 200 miles, from the Iran border.

“Oh my gosh. My furniture moved across the floor,” one resident said. “I had to call and check all my relatives were OK.”

“Literally, the bed was shaking,” another said.

The earthquake was first reported at 6.1 magnitude by the US Geological Survey.

More than 400 people were killed when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iran-Iraq border in November 2017.</s>At least one person died and 100 were injured when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck western Iran’s Kermanshah province on Sunday, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported quoting the general directorate of the province. Five rescue teams have been sent to the area.

The US Geological Survey said two more earthquakes of magnitudes 4.4 and 4.2 also hit the province. Governor Hushang Bazvand said there were about 25 aftershocks.

The epicentre of the 5.9-magnitude earthquake was almost six miles from the city of Tazehabad. It struck at a depth of some 10 kilometres.

Residents in Baghdad, in neighbouring Iraq, told CNN that they also felt the tremors. Baghdad is located about 342 kilometers from Iran.

Iran sits on fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. In November 2017, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the same region. Close to 500 people had died and thousands were injured. In Iraq, nine people were killed and 550 were injured.</s>A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit 55 miles off Bakhtaran, Iran, the United States Geological survey reported.

Bakhtaran is located more than 300 miles west from Iran's capital city of Tehran. The city is home to 946,651 according to the census data from 2016.

The quake was registered at 22:13 GMT, with the epicenter located 31 kilometers (8 miles) to the west of the town of Javanrud at the depth of 10 kilometers, according to the USGS data.

Previous month, Iran experienced several earthquakes in a row. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Iran's southeastern Kerman province after three earthquakes hit country earlier. Some 290 people were injured as a result of a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in the country's western province of Kermanshah back then.</s>The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said.

In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. (Representational Image)

Tehran: Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media.

The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds.

The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically.

Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack.

The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks.

He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents.

Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages.

A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert.

But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces.

There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq.

Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure.

Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity.

In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq.</s>TEHRAN: A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, killing two people and injuring more than 200, officials said.

The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds.

The head of the emergency department at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 injured, six critically.

Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.

IRNA quoted local officials saying that electricity had been cut to 70 villages but that it was restored to at least 50 by dawn.

The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks.

He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents.

Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages.

A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert.

But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces.

There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq.

Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure.

Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity.

Kermanshah is still recovering from a devastating 7.3-magnitude quake that struck last November, killing 620 people in the province and another eight people in Iraq.

That quake left more than 12,000 people injured and damaged some 30,000 houses, leaving huge numbers homeless at the start of the cold season in the mountainous region.

There was criticism that much of the new social housing built as part of a scheme championed by ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had failed to withstand the tremor.

President Hassan Rouhani said those responsible would be held to account.

Iran's deadliest quake in recent years was a 6.6-magnitude tremor that struck the southeast in 2003, decimating the ancient mud-brick city of Bam and killing at least 31,000 people.

In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake in northern Iran killed 40,000 people, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless, reducing dozens of towns and nearly 2,000 villages to rubble.</s>A powerful earthquake has hit Iran, leaving at least one dead.

The quake hit the city of Kermanshah, which is close to the Iraqi border. It was followed by two aftershocks above 3.0 on the Richter scale.

According to the Tasnim news agency in Iran, 58 people have also been injured.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a shallow, magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck about 55 miles (88 km) west-northwest of Kermanshah.

The quake was felt as far away as Baghdad, according to Iraqi state television. Pictures shared on social media show major damage to buildings.

Last November, a 7.3 magnitude quake struck villages and towns in Kermansheh province along the mountainous border with Iraq, killing at least 530 people and injuring thousands of others.

It was Iran's deadliest earthquake in more than a decade.

The latest quake comes amid fears of a so-called 'megaquake' after the planet was shaken by 144 earthquakes in the past seven days, including a 7.3 magniture earthquake that hit Venezeula early last week.

Around 70 earthquakes are said to have hit the Ring of Fire, which is a horseshoe shaped area of volcanic arcs, volcanic belts and tectonic plates.

It stretches along a 25,000-mile arc from South America to Australia via the western United States and East Asia and it's where most of the world's earthquakes happen as tectonic plates push against each other, causing tremors.</s>(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the Iranian city of Kermanshah, killing two and wounding 241, the Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

The majority of the casualties were in the city of Tazehabad, northeast of Kermanshah, according to Tasnim.

Two aftershocks above 3.0 on the Richter scale were also recorded, Tasnim reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a shallow, magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck about 55 miles (88 km) west-northwest of Kermanshah.

The quake was felt as far away as Baghdad, according to Iraqi state television, which also said there were no injuries recorded.

Last November, a 7.3 magnitude quake struck villages and towns in Kermanshah province, along the mountainous border with Iraq, killing at least 530 people and injuring thousands of others. It was Iran’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade.</s>TEHRAN: Dozens have been injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, local media reported.

The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds.

A local medical university said a 70-year-old man had died of a heart attack in the town of Novosbad, according to the Tasnim news agency.

It said a total of 58 people had been reported injured across several towns.

A government official in Salas Babajani told state news agency IRNA that at least seven people were injured there, and that relief forces were on alert.

Local journalists said a crisis centre had been set up in Javanrud to coordinate emergency operations.

Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure.

Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity.

In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Four earthquakes, including one at magnitude 6, shook temblor-prone western Iran on Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring 310, state media reported.

The earthquakes in Iran's Kermanshah province come as some still remain homeless after a major 7.3 magnitude earthquake in November struck the same region, killing over 530 people.

On Sunday, the quakes began after 2:30 a.m. with the magnitude 6 striking near the city of Javanrud, some 460 kilometers (285 miles) west of the capital, Tehran. There were then three apparent aftershocks until sunrise, all at least magnitude 4.

State television aired images of bricks and masonry that smashed a sedan, shattered glass filling a stairwell and cracks in walls. It said every city in Kermanshah province felt the initial temblor.

At least two people were killed, according to state television, including a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man.

Authorities said rescue teams had been deployed to the area. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli planned to travel there Monday. President Hassan Rouhani ordered him to provide immediate relief to the earthquake-stricken region.

Iran sits on major fault lines and is prone to near-daily earthquakes. In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people.

Iran's November 2017 earthquake, also in Kermanshah province, injured thousands in Iran. In neighboring Iraq, nine people were killed and 550 were injured. The almost entirely Kurdish province of Kermanshah is nestled in the Zagros Mountains along the border with Iraq.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes the western Iranian province of Kermanshah, killing at least two people and injuring more than 200 others.