Several villages in southwestern Iran were damaged on Tuesday when 11 mild earthquakes struck the area in quick succession, state radio reported.
The quakes measured between 3,2 and 4,8 on the open-ended Richter scale, but caused no casualties, the radio said, but nevertheless carried an appeal for locals to be prepared for a possible major earthquake.
The report said Izeh was hit by seven tremors, while the nearby oil and gas centre of Masjed Soleiman was hit by four. The towns are situated about 450km southwest of Tehran in Khuzestan province.
”In five villages in the area of Masjed Soleiman, houses suffered damage of between 10% and 50%. In Izeh, homes and cowsheds were also damaged,” the radio said.
”We do not know if the tremors will be followed by a more powerful earthquake. But in this kind of situation the best solution is for people to move to tents in their gardens,” said Sadid Khoie, an official from the geophysics centre of Tehran university.
He told state radio that successive tremors are ”a warning of a more powerful earthquake, and inhabitants of the area should be vigilant”.
Iran has been on major earthquake alert since December 26, when an earthquake measuring between 6,3 and 6,7 on the Richter scale hit the ancient southeastern city of Bam, killing up to 35 000 people. — Sapa-AFP
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