A large earthquake — the USGS puts it at a 7.8 on the Richter scale — has hit Iran 50 miles east of the city of Khash and near the Pakistani border.
Earlier Iranian state television reported that at least 40 people have been killed, but the governor of Sistan and Baluchistan has told ISNA news agency that "the earthquake resulted in no fatalities."
Pakistani officials say at least seven people have died and more than 1‚000 houses in Pakistani areas have been partially damaged.
Iran's Fars news agency reports that it's the biggest quake since a 7.7 in 1990 and the strongest in 40 years. Fars notes that many houses in the area "are made of mud brick, which can easily crumble in a quake."
Given that the area is rural and poor, the emergency effort is expected to be difficult.
#Iran's Red Crescent says facing "complicated emergency situation" in #quake area with villages scattered over desolate hills and valleys.
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) April 16, 2013
This map is from the USGS. The big red dot is the earthquake.
It is being felt across multiple countries.
It was felt in New Delhi, #India. #quake
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 16, 2013
Magnitude 8 earthquake strikes Iran; tremors felt in UAE, Oman and India. Gulf News
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) April 16, 2013
People on the road on II Chundrigar Road #karachi after a 7.9rector scale earthquake in #pakistan and #Irantwitter.com/YesMQM/status/…
— YesMQM (@YesMQM) April 16, 2013
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System notes that the quake hit about 55 miles below ground, and about 300,000 people are within 60 miles of the epicenter.
Here's a USGS map of the nearby towns, which felt tremors ranging from strong (yellow) to light (blue):
On April 10 a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Iran, killing 35 and injuring about 800.
Here's a map giving a better idea of where Tuesday's earthquake occurred:
