Quake measuring 4.9 on Richter scale jolts eastern Iran

TEHRAN (AFP) Nov 17, 2003
A quake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale jolted eastern Iran Monday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, state television reported.

The quake hit the area of Zirkoh, around 340 kilometers (210 miles) southeast of the city of Mashhad in Khorasan province at 2:21 amSunday).

Earthquakes are frequent in Iran, which is criss-crossed by a large number of seismological faultlines. Close to a thousand have hit the country since 1991, killing about 17,600 people and injuring another 53,500, according to figures from the state news agency IRNA.

TERRA.WIRE