Iran tells IAEA quake caused no damage to Bushehr nuclear plant
By Sara Rajabova
Iran has told the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency an earthquake that struck on Tuesday close to the country's only nuclear plant did not damage the facility, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday night the earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, occurred in Bushehr province.
The Vienna-based U.N. body said the quake hit about 91 km (56 miles) from the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
"Iran has informed (the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre) of the event, reporting that there has been no damage to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and no radioactive release from the installation," the U.N. agency reported.
Based on this information and the IAEA's own seismic analysis of the earthquake's magnitude, location and other factors, the agency "is not currently seeking additional information from Iran," the statement added.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed condolences to the Iranian people in connection with the earthquake and urged all the services to start rescue operations.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also made a statement on the earthquake that happened in Bushehr. He urged all law enforcement bodies and military forces to rescue operations in the areas affected by the quake.
Representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Bushehr Ayatollah Gholamali Safaei Bushehri declared three days of mourning in honor of the quake victims.
Head of Iran's Red Crescent Society Mahmud Muzaffar said that all the victims of the quake have been taken out from the rubbles, adding that about 1,000 tents were installed in the quake-affected areas.
Also, the Turkish Committee of the Red Cross announced its readiness to provide assistance to Iran.
Two more quakes hit Iran on Wednesday morning. One 3.9 Richter scale measured quake occurred in Kiyaser city of Iran's Mazandaran province near the Caspian Sea, and the other 4.0 quake hit Iran's Abadan city of Khuzestan province.
The relief operations continue at the quake-affected areas, and according to the latest statistics 38 people died as a result of the quakes, and over 950 were injured, with 123 in a serious condition.
In addition, according to the Iranian media, a mountain has been destroyed, debris of which fell on the Shonbeh city. It is noted that the most severe damage occurred in this city.
200 houses were destroyed in Shonbeh village. Altogether, it is reported that more than 700 houses are destroyed, and numerous houses are severely damaged.