A moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck the town of Hojedk in southeastern Iran’s Kerman province on Monday, according to preliminary seismic data.

The tremor occurred at 14:47 local time (11:17 UTC) at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located at latitude 30.7823 and longitude 57.392, placing it near the rural town of Hojedk, which has previously experienced seismic activity due to its position near active fault lines.

Initial assessments indicate that approximately 70,000 people were exposed to shaking intensity classified as MMI IV (light shaking), though there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. Local authorities and emergency response teams have been dispatched to assess the impact on communities and infrastructure.

Iran lies on several major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes, some of which have caused devastating losses in the past. Authorities are urging residents in the affected areas to remain alert for potential aftershocks and follow official safety instructions.

The earthquake was recorded by regional and international monitoring agencies and inserted into emergency tracking systems at 11:31 UTC.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. (ILKHA)