A significant earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck southern Iran on Sunday morning, centered near the coastal city of Assaluyeh in Bushehr Province. According to the Institute of Geophysics at the University of Tehran, the tremor occurred at exactly 8:41 AM local time.
The earthquake originated at a depth of 18 kilometers (approximately 11 miles) below the earth's surface. Geologists located the epicenter approximately 24 kilometers from Assaluyeh, a critical industrial hub for Iran’s natural gas industry. The shockwaves were also felt in neighboring provinces, with the epicenter situated 32 kilometers from Kushkonar in Hormozgan Province and 45 kilometers from Galeh Dar in Fars Province.
The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, reported that local authorities and emergency services were immediately placed on high alert. However, as of Sunday afternoon, there have been no official reports of casualties or significant structural damage.
Iran is situated in one of the world's most seismically active zones, crisscrossed by major fault lines. Frequent tremors are common in the region; however, earthquakes of this magnitude near industrial zones like Assaluyeh often prompt precautionary safety checks on infrastructure and energy facilities.
Residents in the affected areas reported feeling the ground shake for several seconds, but life in the coastal province appears to have returned to normal shortly after the event.
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