A strong earthquake centered in Soviet Azerbaijan shook the Caspian Sea region early Sunday. An earthquake of 5 on the Richter scale can cause serious damage and one of 7 can cause widespread heavy damage. One report said the quake measured 6.5 on the Richter Scale, and another said 5.6. Teheran and other cities in northern Iran were jolted. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the city of Tabriz, about 50 miles north of Tehran, at 1:15 a.m. local time. It was the third temblor in that region in the last five days. Iran is shaken by hundreds of earthquakes every year that measure from 2.5 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale and most do little damage. The last major quake in Iran happened in September 1978. It measured 7.7 and caused 25,000 deaths.
A strong earthquake centered in Soviet Azerbaijan shook the Caspian Sea region early Sunday. One report said the quake measured 6.5 on the Richter Scale, and another said 5.6. Teheran and other cities in northern Iran were jolted. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the city of Tabriz, about 50 miles north of Tehran, at 1:15 a.m. local time. It was the third temblor in that region in the last five days. Iran is shaken by hundreds of earthquakes every year that measure from 2.5 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale and most do little damage. The last major quake in Iran happened in September 1978. It measured 7.7 and caused 25,000 deaths.