Three strong earthquakes shook mountainous areas in central and southern Iran early on Monday, causing fearful residents to spend a freezing night outdoors, the official Irna news agency reported.
The tremors, which Irna said caused no casualties or damage, struck less than a month after a powerful earthquake devastated the ancient southeastern city of Bam and killed at least 41 000 people.
The strongest, measuring 4,8 on the Richter scale, occured at 3.14am (11.44pm GMT on Sunday) in the southern region of Dashti — just 80km from Bushehr where the Islamic republic is building its first nuclear power plant.
Residents spent the night outside for fear of a new quake, Irna said.
The story was similar in the central town of Shar-e Raza, near the city of Isfahan, which was shaken by a tremor with a magnitude of 4,2 just half an hour earlier.
Irna said a third quake also measuring 4,2 hit less than two minutes later in Broujen, about 50km from Shahr-e Reza. — Sapa-AFP