A powerful earthquake struck near Iran’s Gulf port city of Bushehr today, killing at least 30 people and injuring 800 but leaving Iran’s only nuclear power plant intact, officials said. Shocks from the quake were felt across the Gulf in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, provoking panic and the brief evacuation of some office towers, residents and media said.
Bushehr provincial Governor Fereydoon Hasanvand told state television at least 30 people were killed while more than 800 people were hurt and and receiving medical attention. There were no immediate details on where the casualties occurred, but the head of Iran’s Red Crescent rescue corps, Mahmoud Mozafar, said initial reports indicated that at least one village near Khormoj had been razed.
Tents, blankets and food have been sent to the area, the Fars news agency reported. AFP