5.6 magnitude earthquake shakes Iran, kills eight

Nov. 29 (UPI)-- A powerful earthquake rattled southern Iran yesterday, killing at least eight and wounding 59.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 5.6 magnitude earthquake 14km northeast of Borazjan, Iran in Bushehr Province that struck at 3:21pm yesterday. The quake lasted 20 seconds with more than 40 aftershocks.

Iran's semi-official FARS News Agency reported that President Hassan Rouhani and other senior officials are in contact with the governor general of Bushehr province, also the site of Iran's only nuclear reactor. The Bushehr nuclear reactor is situated 39 miles from the epicenter of the quake. There were no reports of damage to the nuclear reactor.

One witness from the epicenter area in Bozarjan observed that "Some old houses near our area have been destroyed and the most damages are happened in rural places. I was at my room and suddenly felt a shaking which was becoming stronger by passing the time. It was hard for me to get out my room and to reach the garden, but i luckily could get there. We have had many aftershocks since yesterday after major earthquake."

[U.S. Geological Survey] [FARS News Agency] [Earthquake Report]