Iran hit by 5.1-magnitude earthquake near Fordow nuclear site
The earthquake struck east of Tehran near Iran’s nuclear facility; no damage was immediately reported.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Iran last Thursday night near the Fordow nuclear enrichment plant in Qom Province, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The earthquake was registered at a depth of 10 kilometers at 9:19 local time and was also felt in Tehran, about 145 miles to the west.
There were no reports of injury or damage at the time, though the region is familiar with earthquakes due to its high concentration of fault lines. This event comes amid Iran's clashes with Israel over heightened nuclear tensions, which also involve the United States.
Seismic details and public reactions
Although the quake was recorded at 5.1 by the USGS, slightly varied readings were reported by Iranian media with reports of 5.2 and as high as 5.5. Speculation runs rampant on social media following a local blog posting which speculated the quake might be associated with the experiments carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as no official explanation has been advanced.
Such speculation is not uncommon with earthquakes in Iran, which has an extensive history of seismic crises. The earthquake itself was considered minor, and most citizens felt only momentary shakes and minimal disruption to ordinary life.
Tensions in the region intensify
The earthquake occurred as reports had emerged that an Israeli missile strike on an Iranian air defense facility in Behmai province in the southwest of the country had been carried out. The attack targeted Iranian military assets, according to the Israeli news website ynetnews, though officials from both sides have declined to corroborate any other details.
There is no direct evidence to link the earthquake with the strike, but the coincidence has created further public alarm at a time of heightened regional tensions. Iranian authorities are expected to comment on the incident to confirm the cause of the earthquake and reassure Iranians.
