5.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Iran on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake was reported to have its epicentre about 30 miles from Iran’s sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr, near the southern coast of Iran, the federal agency reports.

There were no immediate reports of damage, Iranian state television reported. “No reports have been received on any possible damage from the earthquake,” it said.

The quake was moderate, which can cause considerable damage, and was centered 53 km (33 km) east of Bushehr, a nuclear plant on Iran’s southern coast on the Gulf. The quake was relatively shallow, only 38 km (23 miles) deep, which would have amplified the shaking.

Iran sits on major fault lines and is prone to near-daily earthquakes. In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people. Bam is near the Bushehr nuclear plant, which wasn’t damaged at that time.

Via Daily Mail / The Guardian / The Jerusalem Post