At least three dead in Iran quake; no nuclear plant damage

At least three people were killed Tuesday when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Bushehr province in southern Iran, state media reported.

However, the quake caused no damage to a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in the region, which started operations in Bushehr in 2011, it was reported.

Recent unrelated shutdowns at the plant have raised concerns about safety there.

The governor of Bushehr, Hassan Vand, told state television that the quake had a magnitude of 6.1 and caused some damage in the town of Kaki and nearby villages. He confirmed the three deaths.

Vand added that the quake area was far removed from Bushehr.

He also said that the Red Crescent and the natural disaster department of the Interior Ministry have already dispatched their teams to the quake areas.

Also affected by the quake is the town of Shanbeh, where, according to local officials, hundreds of people were injured. The residents have left their houses in fear of further aftershocks.

There have been a total of five aftershocks. One reached a magnitude of 5.2.

The US Geological Survey had earlier Tuesday said the quake hit at 4:22 pm (1152 GMT), at a depth of 10 kilometres. Its epicentre was 89 kilometres south-east of Bushehr.