This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22168202

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Major earthquake strikes south-east Iran Major earthquake strikes south-east Iran
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has been struck by its most powerful earthquake for nearly 40 years, with tremors felt across Pakistan, India and the Middle East.Iran has been struck by its most powerful earthquake for nearly 40 years, with tremors felt across Pakistan, India and the Middle East.
The epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude quake was near the south-east city of Khash, close to the Pakistani border, the US Geological Survey said. The epicentre of the 7.8-magnitude quake was near the south-east city of Khash, close to the Pakistani border, the US Geological Survey said.
Offices were evacuated in Abu Dhabi and buildings swayed in Delhi, India. Offices were evacuated in Karachi, Delhi, and in the Gulf states.
Iranian state media said no deaths had been confirmed, despite an earlier TV report that at least 40 had died. There were conflicting reports on casualties. Iranian state TV said at least five people had been injured.
It denied earlier reports that 40 people had been killed.
"The epicentre of the quake was located in the desert, and population centres do not surround it. There were no fatalities in the towns around the epicentre," an Iranian crisis centre official, Morteza Akbarpour, was quoted as saying by the Iranian news agency Isna.
However, one unnamed Iranian government official told Reuters: "It was the biggest earthquake in Iran in 40 years and we are expecting hundreds of dead."
At least five people died in Pakistan near the border with Iran, hospital and local government officials said.At least five people died in Pakistan near the border with Iran, hospital and local government officials said.
The earthquake struck in the province of Sistan Baluchistan at about 15:14 local time (10:44 GMT), close to the cities of Khash, with a population of nearly 180,000, and Saravan, with 250,000. The earthquake struck in the province of Sistan Baluchistan at about 15:14 local time (10:44 GMT), close to the cities of Khash, which has a population of nearly 180,000, and Saravan, where 250,000 live.
All communications to the region have been cut, and the Iranian Red Crescent said it was sending 20 search-and-rescue teams with three helicopters to the area.
Sistan Baluchistan is Iran's biggest province and one its most impoverished areas.
A member of parliament for Saravan, Hedayatollah Mir-Morad Zehi, said there were 1,700 villages in the area, and most of the buildings were made of mud.
Many people in surrounding villages live in tents, which it was hoped would limit the number of casualties.
Iran's Fars news agency was reporting that Saravan had suffered no serious damage.Iran's Fars news agency was reporting that Saravan had suffered no serious damage.
All communications to the region have been cut. The Iranian Red Crescent said it was sending 20 search-and-rescue teams with three helicopters to the area. The earthquake was felt across the region.
The earthquake has been felt across the region. A BBC correspondent in Abu Dhabi said she was evacuated from her office.
Michael Stephens, a researcher at RUSI Qatar, told the BBC from his office in Doha: "I definitely felt the walls shaking. It lasted for about 25 seconds."Michael Stephens, a researcher at RUSI Qatar, told the BBC from his office in Doha: "I definitely felt the walls shaking. It lasted for about 25 seconds."
Mohammad Wazir, a correspondent for BBC Persian in Pakistan, says the quake was felt in the cities of Karachi and Quetta.Mohammad Wazir, a correspondent for BBC Persian in Pakistan, says the quake was felt in the cities of Karachi and Quetta.
It comes after a 6.3-magnitude quake in south-west Iran killed at least 37 people and wounded 850 on 10 April. On 10 April, a 6.3-magnitude quake near the nuclear plant at Bushehr in south-western Iran killed at least 37 people and wounded 850.
Iran's most deadly recent earthquake was a 6.6-magnitude quake that destroyed much of the south-eastern city of Bam and killed some 26,000 people in 2003. The Bushehr plant was not damaged by the earlier earthquake, and an official at the Russian firm that built the plant said it had not been damaged by Tuesday's earthquake either, Reuters reported.
In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake destroyed much of the south-eastern city of Bam and killed some 26,000 people.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions