Iran earthquake: A 5.1 magnitude earthquake hits Semnan, Iran, amid rising tensions with Israel

A powerful earthquake shook Semnan in northern Iran early Friday, rattling a region already fraught with tensions.

The shallow, 5.1-magnitude earthquake sparked concern because it struck near a city with a space and missile complex.

Are there any casualties reported?

The area remains volatile, both geologically and politically. The shallow 10 km-deep earthquake sparked concern, but there were no immediate reports of damage and casualties as of now, as per a report by the Times of Israel.

About 35 kilometers southwest of Semnan, close to Tehran, the earthquake occurred in central Iran. At 7:49 UTC, the region was shaken by the earthquake, as per a report. Tensions are already high at the time of the earthquake because of Iran's ongoing conflict with Israel.

The Semnan Space Center and the Semnan Missile Complex, run by Iran's military, are said to be located in Semnan.

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Is this area prone to earthquakes?

Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, situated on the geologically active Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt. Seismic events are common due to its complex tectonic setting, and over the years, many of them have resulted in significant destruction and fatalities. Iran typically receives 2,100 earthquakes a year, of which 15 to 16 are of magnitude 5.0 or higher.


On June 20, representatives of Israel and Iran engaged in a face-off at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) amid rising tensions between the two countries.

FAQs

How strong was the Semnan earthquake?
It was a 5.1 magnitude quake located approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Semnan.

Was there any damage?
No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received.