Strong Earthquake Hits Southeastern Iran

Associated Press:

A powerful earthquake rocked southeastern Iran Sunday. Iranian television said some houses were damaged but there were no immediate reports of casualties. read more

The quake had a 5.9 magnitude and hit the region of Saravan, close to the border with Pakistan, around 7 a.m. local time.

The sparsely populated area is about 840 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran.

Hojjat Ali Shayanfar, a local official, said a helicopter had been commissioned to fly over the area.

"Up to now no casualty has been reported," he said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.0.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. More than 600 people were killed by a 6.4 magnitude quake that hit a central section of the country on Feb. 22.