According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the quake occurred at 10:11pm local time (18:41 UTC) approximately 133 miles southwest of Zahedan or 176 miles southeast of Kerman. The earthquake was centered relatively deeply at 7.7 miles beneath the surface.
The USGS warned that some casualties and damage are possible from the quake however none have been reported yet. Nearly 500,000 people are estimated to have been within range to have experienced moderate to severe shaking from the temblor.
Several fault lines crisscross Iran making it a hotbed of seismic activity and the nation is home to frequent damaging and deadly quakes. The earthquake today occurred approximately 60 miles southeast of the city of Bam. On December 26, 2003 a quake near the ancient city killed over 26,000 people and injured 30,000.
