Strong earthquake hits Iran

An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted the town of Lar in the Fars province of Iran this morning, Trend reports.
The Seismological Center of Tehran University's Geophysics Institute registered the quake at 00:08 local time. Following the first strike, the center registered six tremors measuring 5.2, 4.1, 3.9, 3.5, 3.9 and 3.5 Richter scale.
The quake damaged about 30 percent of houses in the city and led to a power outage in the southern part of the province. Rescuers, firemen and ambulances were sent to the scene.
"About 400 tents and 2 trucks of food and water were sent to the four villages affected by the quake. About 1,596 people reside in these villages," Fars Province Red Crescent Society Head Mehdi Musallanejad said.
The quake injured 19 residents, he said, adding that they were take to hospital. The Red Crescent Society is continuing the rescue work.
Musallanejad said the quake mainly affected the Ashkan village.