Magnitude 6.2 quake hits southeast Iran

BEIRUT: An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 hit Kerman province in southeast Iran on Tuesday, injuring 18 people and damaging about 20 houses, state media reported.

The quake struck near the town of Hojdak, according to state TV. The US Geological Survey recorded its magnitude as 6.1 and said it struck at a depth of 57 km. Approximately 30 aftershocks have occurred, state media reported.

No deaths have been reported but 18 people were injured, state media said. Pictures posted on state media showed groups of people standing in streets in the quake zone, fearing the collapse of buildings.

The 20 damaged buildings were mostly older structures, state media reported. The pictures showed collapsed mud brick walls. Another quake, which Iranian state media reported at 6.0 and the USGS reported at 5.4, hit western Iran on Monday, in the same region where a magnitude 7.3 earthquake killed at least 530 people last month.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries from Monday’s quake. Hardline rivals of President Hassan Rouhani have criticised the government’s reponse to last month’s quake as too slow and inadequate.