An earthquake occured on Thursday in northern Iran, 61 kilometres from the capital, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The initial assessment of 4.8 has been changed to a magnitude 5.1.
The earthquake was also felt east of Tehran, with the same magnitude. No casualties or damage have been reported.
Map of felt reports received so far following the #earthquake M5.1 in Northern Iran 40 min ago pic.twitter.com/khi0IFIoWP
— EMSC (@LastQuake) May 7, 2020
Photos allegedly taken after the earthquake were shared in social media, showing people coming out onto the streets after the shakes.
People are coming out into the streets after a 5.1 richter earthquake just hit near Tehran. Aftershocks are possible. An official in #Iran’s National Crisis Org has told people to maintain social distancing as they get out of their homes. pic.twitter.com/5E0oYc9MfJ
— Sina Toossi (@SinaToossi) May 7, 2020
Iran is prone to frequent earthquakes, as 90 percent of the country is crisscrossed with major faults, making it particularly seismically active.
