Quake hits Iran, some buildings damaged: Report

Tehran, July 4: A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook the centralIranian province of Yazd today, causing the collapse of a few roofs butno casualties, official media said.

The quake struck in the area of Behabad, a town of 10,000 people160 km east of the city of Yazd, the IRNA news agency said. The area isnot close to Iran's main oil producing areas.

In an old neighbourhood of Behabad, the roofs of three housescollapsed and cracks appeared in the walls of dozens of buildings, asenior provincial official said.

''This 5.1 earthquake did not cause any injuries,'' the official,identified only with his surname Eghel, told the Web site of the statebroadcaster. IRNA later said there was another quake in the same area,with a 4.7 magnitude.

Experts say Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world as it is crossed by several major faultlines.

Reuters>