Scores killed as massive quake hits Iran; tremors felt in India, Pak, Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain

Tehran/Dubai/New Delhi, Apr 16: A powerful earthquake struck Iran on Tuesday, leaving scores of people dead and causing tremors across the Gulf region and South Asia.
Iranian state TV said at least 40 people have been killed, but gave no further details on the extent of damage in the sparsely populated areas.

However, a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters he expected hundreds of deaths in what he described as "the biggest earthquake in Iran in 40 years".

Iran's seismological center said the 7.5 magnitude earthquake was centered near Saravan, a sparsely populated area about 48 kilometers (26 miles) from the Pakistani border. The US Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 7.8 and at a shallow depth of 15.2 kilometers(nine miles).

The quake struck less than a week after a 6.1 magnitude quake hit near Bushehr, on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, killing at least 37 people and raising calls for greater international safety inspections at the country's long energy-producing nuclear reactor.

Across Gulf

Across the Gulf, high-rise buildings swayed and officials ordered evacuations, said a report. Dubai has the world's tallest tower, the 828-meter (2,717 -foot) Burj Khalifa.

Tremors also felt in many parts UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia including in Dammam, Al-Khobar and Jubail. A resident in Alkhobar said the tremor was quite strong in the Eastern Province of Saudi.

UAE

Residents rushed out of their homes and offices after feeling the earth shake at around 2.50 pm. This is the second time that tremors were felt in the region due to massive quakes in the fault lines in Iran. Last Tuesday, occupants of many high-rise buildings were evacuated and people rushed out from different parts of the UAE after an earthquake hit southern Iran. Initial reports of today's earthquake have pitted the magnitude between 7.6 and 8 on the richter scale.

Today's tremors have caused evacuations of residential and office buildings and hospitals, including many in Media City.

Deira resident Rajanikanth Soni, who lives opposite the Al Ras metro station on the third floor of a residential building, said he felt shaking in his apartment for about 25 seconds during the tremor.“It was a gentle shake but all the utensils and all were moving on the table...my cupboards are glass and all of them were trembling.”He said most people had exited from his building once they felt the shaking.

New Delhi

In New Delhi, which is periodically shaken by temblors, the distant quake could be felt through the city, as buildings shook for more than 10 seconds and, in some areas, frightened people ran into the streets. No injuries were reported, nor were there any early reports of property damage in the Indian capital.

Pakistan

Pakistani news channels showed buildings shaking in the southern city of Karachi, where people in panic came out from offices and homes. There was no immediate word on any damage and people were seen standing outside their homes and offices even minutes after the quack rattled various parts of the country.

Quake-prone region

It could be recalled here that a powerful 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to Iran's only nuclear power station on April 9, killing 37 people and injuring 850 as it destroyed homes and devastated two villages. Most of Iran's nuclear-related facilities are located in central Iran or its west, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast.

In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a 6.6 magnitude quake that flattened the historic southeastern Iranian city of Bam.