One killed, 58 injured in 5.9-magnitude earthquake in western Iran

In the earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale in western Iran early Sunday, one person was killed and 58 others were injured, the Tasnim news agency reported.

The victim, a 70-year-old man, died of heart attack.

According to Iranian Seismological Center, the epicenter of the earthquake in Iran's Tazeh Abad town in western Kermanshah province was at a depth of 8 km, 34.631 degrees north latitude and 46.220 degrees east longitude.

People in Tazeh Abad town and the neighbourhood villages rushed to the streets in panic following the quake and camped in parks, state media reported.

Long queues were reported at gas stations in all parts of the Kermanshah province.

According to the Tasnim news agency, water and power connections were broken and telephone lines were disrupted in the quake-hit region.

The Red Crescent Society of Kermanshah province have dispatched six teams of rescue operators to Tazeh Abad town and the affected villages.

Sixteen aftershocks ranging from 3.0 4.1 in magnitude have taken place in the region.