Earthquake strikes Tehran and Semnan provinces in Iran

08/15/15

Source: Tasnim News Agency

No injuries or damage have been reported after a mild earthquake jolted some areas on the outskirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, an official with Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) announced on Friday.



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According to a report by Iranian Seismological Center of the Institute of Geophysics of University of Tehran, an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale on Thursday night rattled the districts of Javad Abad, Pishva and Varamin, south of Tehran.

The institute also said that the quake was followed by seven aftershocks and foreshocks, adding that the epicenters were areas near Javad Abad, Pishva and Varamin.

"Fortunately, the quakes had no casualties or property damage so far," Head of Iran Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Relief and Rescue Organization Nasser Charkhsaz told the Tasnim News Agency on Friday.

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.

The deadliest quake in Iran's modern history happened in June 1990. It destroyed the northern cities of Rudbar, Manjil and Lushan, along with hundreds of villages, killing an estimated 37,000 people.

Bam in the country's southeastern province of Kerman witnessed a strong quake in December 2003 which killed 31,000 people.