6.2 quake hits south-eastern Iran

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Iran's southeastern province of Kerman on Tuesday, the Iranian seismological centre reported, though minimal damage was reported.

Eighteen people were initially reported to have been wounded in the quake, which struck in the villages of Hejdak and Ravar in Kerman province, the national emergency service told state broadcaster IRIB, according to AFP.

Officials said old houses were damaged in six villages, and classes at schools and universities were cancelled.

The quake struck at 12:13 (08:43 GMT) with the epicentre around 50km north of the provincial capital of Kerman and about 800km from Tehran.

It was measured as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey and several smaller aftershocks were reported.