ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border region on Sunday evening, the US Geological Survey confirms. Injuries and at least one fatality have been reported on both sides of the border.
One person died in hospital and 43 were injured in Kelar, Garmiyan Administration of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC).
No further details were immediately available.
Very sadly, one of the injured person just passed away in the hospital, and the number of people raised to 43 affected civilians https://t.co/CYyJfN5ovF
— JCC_KRG (@JccKrg) November 25, 2018
The quake struck at 16:37:31 (UTC) at a depth of 65 kilometers (40 miles) near Sarpol-e Zahab, 114 km northwest of the city of Ilam, close to Iran’s border with Iraq. Tremors were felt in Erbil, Baghdad, and as far away as Kuwait.
In total, seven tremors have been felt since the initial quake, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Bazwand said several of these towns suffered electrical blackouts.
Pirhossein Koulivand, head of the Iranian emergency services, told state TV: “No reports of any fatalities (have been reported) yet and most of the injured were hurt while fleeing, not due to quake damage,” according to Reuters.
Earlier, Kadhim Salman, director of Iraqi Civil Defense, told Iraqi state media there are currently no reports of material damage or loss of life in Iraq.
“The earthquake did not cause any life or property losses,” Salman told INA news agency.
It comes just over a year after a 7.3 magnitude quake hit the same region, causing widespread damage and killing 600 people.
M6.3 #earthquake (#زلزال) strikes 163 km NE of #Baghdad (#Iraq) 17 min ago. Updated map of its effects: pic.twitter.com/ItYGkbldfV
— EMSC (@LastQuake) November 25, 2018
This is a developing story…
Last updated 11.30 pm
