Southern Iran was rocked by a powerful earthquake Tuesday afternoon, sparking fears that the nuclear plant near the quake’s epicenter may have been damage. Atomstroyexport, the Russian company that built the plant in Bushehr, was quick to report no damage had been done to the reactor.
"The earthquake in no way affected the normal situation at the reactor. Personnel continue to work in the normal regime and radiation levels are fully within the norm," an Atomstroyexport official said.
Bushehr governor Fereydoon Hasanvand confirmed the official’s report.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck about 60 miles southeast of Bushehr near the city of Kaki. Fives aftershocks followed. The tremors were felt in Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain.
Iran's state-run Press TV said four people died in the earthquake. Press TV also reported that officials expect the death toll to rise. It is unclear where they victims died. State-run IRNA news agency said the city of Kaki was “ruined.” The villages of Shanbe and Sana were also seriously damaged. No other details were immediately available.
###
Click here for more World News
