Strong quakes hit Hormozgan province in south Iran, casualties reported

Two powerful earthquakes have hit Iran’s southern province of Hormozgan in a row, causing material damage while human casualties have been also reported.

The first quake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, jolted Laft region on the southern island of Qeshm at a depth of 18 kilometers, which was also felt in Bushehr, Kerman and Fars provinces.

The second 6.3-magnitude temblor struck near the city of Fin in Hormozgan at a depth of 10 kilometers a few miniatures later.

Deputy Governor of Hormozgan Reza Modarres told Fars news agency that at least one person has died in the quakes and 27 people were injured.

He added that rescue teams have been dispatched to the quake-affected areas.

Director General of Hormozgan Crisis Management Mehrdad Hassanzadeh also was quoted as saying that the quakes have temporarily disrupted telephone and Internet connections in the province.

"Three investigating teams have been dispatched to Laft and rescue teams are on full alert," he added.

Meanwhile, head of Iran's Emergency Medical Services Organization Jafar Miadfar said all hospitals in Hormozgan are ready to treat the injured people.

He added that four investigating teams have been sent to Qeshm Island while all adjacent provinces are on alert.

Iraj Roohi, seismic database manager at Iranian Seismological Center said the two quakes occurred near the "High Zagros" Fault, noting that there is no record of a tsunami in this area

He added that there is a very low possibility that a tsunami would occur in this area.

President Raeisi orders immediate investigation of quake-hit areas

Soon after the quakes, Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi ordered all relevant state bodies, officials and ministries to carry out relief operations and investigate the situation in the quake-hit areas as soon as possible.

He added that all neighboring provinces must be ready to help relief operations in Hormozgan if need be.

Raeisi also ordered First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to travel to the quake-stricken regions at the earliest to monitor the existing problems up-close, so that local people would feel safe and secure, knowing that relief operations would be carried out on time and in an appropriate manner.

‘Bushier nuclear power plant not damaged by quakes’

In a related development, Bushehr province’s Natural Disasters Management Department announced later on Sunday that the powerful quakes in Hormozgan province had not harmed the nuclear power plant in the adjacent Bushehr province in any way.

“The quakes have not done any damage to Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and all the plant’s installations, equipment and related buildings are completely unscathed,” Jahangir Dehqani, head of the department, was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.

He dismissed rumors that a tsunami was likely to occur in the nearby Persian Gulf, noting that no report of physical or human losses have been received from anywhere across Bushehr province.

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