Magnitude 4.9 quake jolts western Iran, no casualties reported

An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale hit an area in Iran’s western province of Kermanshah in the early hours of Saturday but there are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

According to the Seismological Center of the Institute of Geophysics of Tehran University, the temblor struck an area near the city of Tazehabad northeast of Kermanshah at 1:35 a.m. (local time) on Saturday.

Data from the seismological center showed the location of the quake at 14 km from Tazehabad and with a depth of 5 km, Tansimnews.com reports.

No reports of casualties have been reported yet, according to Tasnim dispatches.

On Sunday, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake had hit the same area, killing three people and injuring 253 others.

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.

On November 12, the western province of Kermanshah was hit by a major 7.3-magnitude quake that killed 620 people according to the latest toll.