Quake rattles Iran, no early reports of damage

TEHRAN, June 18 (Reuters) An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck an area south of Tehran today, and there were no immediate reports of damage, state media reported.

State television quoted an official from Iran's earthquake research centre as saying the quake measured 5.6 and struck an area near Qom, a city about 125 km south of Tehran.

The tremor could be felt by residents in the capital but the official, named only as Dr Zareh, said there was no danger to Tehran. Tremors can sometimes be followed by stronger quakes.

''The centre of this earthquake is not completely known. But it was roughly south or southwest of Qom city ... Tehran city is not in danger from this earthquake,'' Dr Zareh said.

A state radio report had earlier said the quake struck 20 km north of Qom and measured 5.5 on the Richter scale, while an earlier state TV report measured the quake at 5.9.

Iran, OPEC's No 2 oil producer, is regularly hit by earthquakes which is criss-crossed with fault lines. Qom is not close to Iran's main oil producing areas.

REUTERS SG ND2208