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Earthquake strikes southern Iran Earthquake strikes southern Iran
(20 minutes later)
Iranian rescue services are checking for damage and casualties after an earthquake measuring 6.1 struck near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. An earthquake measuring 6.1 has struck near the south Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, killing one person and injuring 15 on the island of Qeshm.
US quake monitors registered it 55km (35 miles) below ground at 0630 (1100 GMT), west of the city which is home to a big oil refinery.US quake monitors registered it 55km (35 miles) below ground at 0630 (1100 GMT), west of the city which is home to a big oil refinery.
Emergency services in the province of Hormuzgan were put on alert. Emergency services in the province of Hormuzgan are checking for other possible casualties and damage.
The deadliest quake to hit Iran in recent years was in 2003, when 25,000 people died in a 6.7 quake in Bam. Iran straddles a major geological fault line, making it prone to earth tremors.
Iran straddles a major geological fault line, making it particularly prone to earth tremors. Wednesday's quake caused a power outage on Qeshm and reportedly brought down several buildings. There is the possibility of casualties and fatalities Yasser Hazbavi Head of Hormuzgan's disaster HQ class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7533950.stm">Animated guide: Earthquakes
"All our rescue groups are on alert in Bandar Abbas and [nearby] Qeshm Island," Yasser Hazbavi, the head of Hormuzgan's disaster headquarters, told Reuters news agency. "All our rescue groups are on alert in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island," Yasser Hazbavi, the head of Hormuzgan's disaster headquarters, told Reuters news agency.
"We have sent groups to the area. There is the possibility of casualties and fatalities.""We have sent groups to the area. There is the possibility of casualties and fatalities."
Across the Gulf, residents in Dubai and neighbouring emirates also felt the tremor, and office workers rushed out of some of the city's high-rise buildings, the Associated Press reports.
"My bed was hitting against the wall," said Rheanne Anderson, a Canadian teacher living in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.
"There was definitely some shaking."
The deadliest quake to hit Iran in recent years was in 2003, when 25,000 people died in a 6.7 quake in Bam.