WORLD> Middle East
Strong earthquake hits southern Iran
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-10 21:02

TEHRAN - A strong earthquake of up to 6.1 magnitude on the Richter scale stroke southern Iran on Wednesday.

One person was reported killed and 15 injured so far, state television reported.

The Geophysics Institute of Tehran University, registered the quake at 15:30 hours local time (11:00 GMT), Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

The earthquake jolted the vicinity of Khamir port near southern port city of Bandar Abbas in Iran's southern province of Hormozgan, IRNA said, adding that the quake spread panic among people who ran to the street in search of shelter.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the center of the earthquake was in Gonbad Namaki gachin, a small area of Hormozgan.

The quake stroke Iran's southern port cities of Bandar Lengeh, Bandar Abbas and Kish Island as well, Fars said, adding that it is possible that the earthquake has caused serious damage.