Scores hurt as quake rattles Iran

AFP PHOTO TEHRAN — In the earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale in western Iran early Sunday, two persons were killed and more than 200 were injured, the Tasnim news agency reported.

According to Iranian Seismological Center, the epicenter of the earthquake in Iran’s Tazeh Abad town in western K2ermanshah province was at a depth of 8 km, 34.631 degrees north latitude and 46.220 degrees east longitude.

People in Tazeh Abad town and the neighborhood villages rushed to the streets in panic following the quake and camped in parks, state media reported.

Long queues were reported at gas stations in all parts of the Kermanshah province.

According to the Tasnim news agency, water and power connections were broken and telephone lines were disrupted in the quake-hit region.

The Red Crescent Society of Kermanshah province have dispatched six teams of rescue operators to Tazeh Abad town and the affected villages.

Sixteen aftershocks ranging from 3.0 4.1 in magnitude have taken place in the region.