State media: Quake injures 700 in southern Iran

TEHERAN: An earthquake struck a key port city in southern Iran early yesterday, injuring at least 700 people and cutting power and telephone lines, the state news agency reported.

IRNA said 100 of the injured had been hospitalized while the rest were minor cases.

The 4.9-magnitude quake struck Bandar Abbas just before 3 am local time, sending residents streaming into the streets. Bandar Abbas is home to a large oil refinery that primarily serves the domestic market.