At least one dead after strong earthquake strikes southern Iran
September 28th, 2010 - 12:22 am ICT by BNO NewsTEHRAN (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck southern Iran on early Monday afternoon, seismologists said, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
The 6.1-magnitude earthquake at 2.52 p.m. local time (1122 GMT) was centered approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) west of Khesht, a town in the country’s Fars Province. It struck about 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the Iranian Seismological Center.
Monday’s earthquake was also centered about 85 kilometers (55 miles) west of Shiraz, one of the most populous cities in Iran and the capital of Fars Province.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), however, estimated the strength of the earthquake at 5.5 on the Richter scale. “The population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist,” it said.
The agency estimated that approximately 82,000 people may have perceived ‘very strong’ shaking that could potentially result in moderate to heavy damage. Some 95,000 others may have perceived ’strong’ shaking that could potentially result in light to moderate damage.
Additionally, the USGS estimated that some 4.5 million others may have perceived ‘moderate’ to ‘weak’ shaking. “Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread,” the agency estimated based on earthquake data.
The extend of the actual damage and casualties as a result of the earthquake was not immediately known. The country’s Mehr News Agency reported that a man was killed and that three others were injured as a result of the quake.
Power outages were also reported in the area.
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