Northern Iran rattled by strong earthquake
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-12 10:05

An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook northern Iran but no casualties were reported, an interior ministry spokesman said.

"The earthquake hit in a region near the city of Agh Ghala between the Turkmen border and the Caspian Sea but did not claim any victims according to initial reports we have received," Jahanbaksh Khanjani told AFP.

The quake struck at 10:16 pm (1846 GMT) and was followed by two weaker aftershocks.

"Inhabitants were frightened and emerged onto the streets of the main cities of the region," state news agency IRNA said.

Authorities warned residents of the region to take precautions for possible further tremors.

An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale devastated the southeastern Iranian city of Bam in December 2003, killing more than 30,000 people.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Nation jumps to be world third largest trader         Hu offers systematic cure to corruption         Cross-Straits charter flight talks proposed         Draft law aims to hold back monopolies         Wintry Beijing tackles heating shortfalls         'Extremely critical' flaw threatens IE users	Allawi admits some areas unsafe to vote       Bush picks ex-prosecutor for homeland post       Sharon phones Abbas in highest contact in years       'Extremely critical' flaw threatens IE users       New case of mad cow confirmed in Canada       Death toll in Australian bushfires rises to 10