Quake claims man in Iran, tremors felt in UAE

ABU DHABI: The stations of the National Seismic Network of the National Centre of Meteorology recorded an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale in southern Iran at 16:07 on Sunday UAE local time.

The UAE Meteorological Center reported that the earthquake was felt in several emirates, measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale.

Dubai resident Rachel Mcarthur wrote on Twiter, “Anyone else feel that? #earthquake #dubai …Lasted a good few minutes as well.” Mohamed Sabe said, “Yes I felt it. It was long.” Naveed Cheema told Gulf Today, “I also felt although not very intense but enough to be felt.”

Yusuf Hasan aldo responded, “Yes, it was an intense one but don’t know the magnitude.”

Nawsaim wrote on Twiter, “I did feel while I was praying… my window grilles were shaking.”

Glen Em said, “Had some minor shaking in my apartment in Ras Al Khaimah.”

Sukumar told Gulf Today, “I also felt mild jerk in my flat in Al Nahda Dubai.”

Two strong earthquakes struck southern Iran near the port of Bandar Abbas on Sunday, prompting residents to flee their homes and killing at least one person, state TV reported.

The quakes measured 6.3 and 6.4 magnitude, jolting the province of Hormozgan, state TV said, and the tremors were felt across the gulf in Dubai.

“One person died ater an electricity pole fell on him,” Iranian state TV said, citing local officials.

Iran is crisscrossed by major geological fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude of one of the quakes at 6.5 at a relatively shallow depth of 10km.

“The quake was felt in several southern Iranian cities in Hormozgan province,” an official told state TV, adding that rescue teams had been sent to the area.

State TV showed residents in Bandar Abbas fleeing their homes in panic. Iran’s state news agency IRNA said there was no structural damage to homes in the area.

A report said that President Ebrahim Raisi ordered his senior vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber, to visit Hormozgan province as soon as possible. Raisi also urged all responsible bodies to take care of people who suffered injuries and damage.

The report said assessment teams had deployed to analyse the situation.

Iranian social media carried photos of damage from the quakes, including one of a wall that had collapsed on a car.