548 injured in Iran earthquake

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale has left over 548 people injured here, as search and rescue operations are underway at the site of incidence. No deaths have been reported so far.

The epicentre of the quake which occurred late Sunday night is around 17 kilometres away from Sar Pol-e Zahab, reported Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency quoting the Seismological Center of the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University.

Iran Relief and Rescue Organisation head Morteza Salimi mentioned that nine sniffer dogs, 10 rapid response teams, 23 rubble teams, two medical teams and other emergency teams have been rushed to the affected areas.

Furthermore, 14,124 tents have been distributed to the people in the Kermanshah province as part of disaster relief efforts.

Iran is situated on a fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, making the nation highly susceptible to major earthquakes.

The 2003 Bam earthquake has been the deadliest so far as more than 26,000 people were killed by the tremor which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale.