M6.2 earthquake jolts W. Iran, 50 injured

TEHRAN - A 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted western Iran on Sunday morning, with official media reporting that at least 50 were injured.

The temblor, whose epicenter was located 36 km southeast of Abdanan city in Ilam province, struck at 07:02 local time (0232 GMT) from a depth of 10 km, according the US Geological Survey.

The quake caused heavy damage to buildings and roads in at least eight villages in Murmuri town near the epicenter, and local energy and water supplies were disrupted, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Relief and rescue teams have been dispatched and the injured have been sent to hospitals, according to the IRNA.

The quake was followed by scores of aftershocks, including one at magnitude 6, according to the Iranian Seismological Center.