Strong earthquake kills at least three in Iran

A strong earthquake rocked southern Iran today, sending tremors across the Persian Gulf and shaking the skyscrapers of Dubai. Iranian state television reported that at least 3 people were killed and 22 injured.

The country’s seismological centre said a magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.15pm local time, with the epicentre about 850 miles south of the capital Tehran, in the region of Bandar Abbas.

The TV gave no details of the initial casualties. The report also said that tremors caused a power outage and brought minor damages on the Qeshm island in the Persian Gulf.

The broadcast quoted an Iranian official at the seismological centre as saying that 10 aftershocks were registered following the quake, each of magnitude 4.7 and less.

The US Geological Survey estimated its strength at magnitude 6.1.

Across the Persian Gulf waters, residents in Dubai and neighbouring emirates reported feeling shaking that lasted less than a minute.

The tremors sent office workers rushing out of some of the high-rise towers that dot the skyline in the city-state’s commercial centre.

Dubai Civil Defence officials said they received several calls from panicked residents, saying their beds were shaking and their furniture was collapsing.

“My bed was hitting against the wall,” said Rheanne Anderson, a Canadian teacher living in the nearby emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. “There was definitely some shaking.”

There were no reports of damage or casualties in the Emirates.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one slight earthquake every day on average.