Moderate quake injures 35 in Iran town

AP: A moderate earthquake damaged buildings and injured at least 35 people early Wednesday in a town in southwestern Iran, sending panicked residents running into the streets, a local official said. Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – A moderate earthquake damaged buildings and injured at least 35 people early Wednesday in a town in southwestern Iran, sending panicked residents running into the streets, a local official said.

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck at 2:03 a.m. and was centered in the town of Doroud, 235 miles southwest of the capital, Tehran, said Jafar Lak, an official in the governor’s office in Doroud.

“The epicenter of the quake was exactly in the center of the town and damaged many buildings,” Lak said.

No one was killed in the quake, but 35 people were injured, Lak said.

The quake did not affect the town’s supply of electricity, water and gas, but it did send panicked residents running out of their homes, Lak said. Many people in the town of 110,000 spent the night outdoors.

In March 2006, three earthquakes and nine aftershocks hit western Iran, including Doroud, in quick succession, killing at least 70 people and injuring about 1,200. Iran is located on several seismic fault lines and at least one slight tremor is felt each day.