Strong earthquake hits southern IranMay 11, 2013 - 10:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A strong earthquake of 6.2 magnitude hit southern Iran early Saturday, May 11, the US Geological Survey said, with local media reporting of damaged villages and several injuries. The epicenter of the quake was measured at 85 kilometres (52 miles) southeast of the southern town of Minab at 0208 GMT, the USGS said in a statement. It was at a depth of 36.44 km, according to AFP. Head of Iran's Red Crescent rescue corps Mahmoud Mozafar told the Fars news agency that at least 11 people had been injured in five villages which were "severely" hit by the quake. The Mehr news agency, quoted him as saying that "several houses were levelled" based on preliminary reports. The reports said rescue teams were dispatched to the affected area. The USGS said there was a 35 percent chance of fatalities from the quake which the Hong Kong Observatory measured at 6.1 magnitude. Iran's Seismological Centre has registered a series of aftershocks, measuring between 4.1 and 5.2. Iran sits astride several major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes, some of which have been devastating. Last month, the biggest earthquake to hit the country in 50 years, measuring 7.8, killed a woman and injured more than a dozen other people in the southeast. At least 40 people were killed across the border in Pakistan where hundreds of mud homes were leveled. A double earthquake, one measuring 6.2 and the other 6.0, struck northwestern Iran last August, killing more than 300 people and injuring 3,000. In December 2003, a massive quake struck the southern city of Bam. It killed 26,271 people -- about a quarter of the population -- and destroyed the city's ancient mud-built citadel. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |