December 5, 2012 Earthquake: Khorasan Province, Iran

2012, December 05, 17:08:13.5 UTC. 33.506 N, 59.571 E, 14 km depth, 5.6 mb, 5.6 Ms, 5.7 Mw. Eastern Iran. Felt (IV) at Qayen. Also felt at Birjand. Felt at Herat and Shindand, Afghanistan. (reference #1053)

A moderate earthquake shook eastern Iran Wednesday, killing five people and injuring several others, Iranian TV reported. State TV said the 5.5-magnitude quake hit South Khorasan province in eastern Iran near the border with Afghanistan at 20:38 local time Wednesday. The broadcast quoted Javad Heravi, who represents the region in the Iranian parliament, as saying that the quake caused damage to rural buildings and cut power lines and telephone communication. The semiofficial Fars news agency said the quake caused panic and prompted residents in the provincial capital, Birjand, to flee their homes. The TV said the epicenter of the quake was outside Zohan, a village 65 miles north of Birjand. (reference #10102)

An earthquake measuring 5.5 in magnitude struck eastern Iran on Wednesday, killing eight people and injuring 12 others as emergency teams scrambled to rescue others and treat the injured, Iranian media reported. People fled their homes as the quake struck and brought walls and buildings down. But others were left trapped under rubble in villages across the district of Zohan in South Khorasan province, Fars news agency said. (reference #10365)