Photo: Shutterstock An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale struck northern Iran this evening (Friday, June 20) at approximately 21:19 local time.
The epicenter was recorded at a shallow depth of about 10 km, which can cause stronger tremors on the surface.
According to the European Seismological Center, the epicenter was identified in a well-populated mountainous region between two significant cities:
About 125 km south of Sari, a major city in northern Iran with over a quarter of a million residents, serving as the capital of the Mazandaran Province.
Approximately 36 km southwest of Semnan, the capital of Semnan Province, home to about 124,000 residents.
Local reports indicate that the quake was strongly felt in residences, especially on higher floors. No injuries or significant damage have been reported so far, but social media has circulated footage of citizens leaving their homes in panic.
Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone countries due to its location at the junction of tectonic plates. The region where the quake occurred, between the Alborz mountain range and the central desert, has experienced frequent seismic activity over the years.
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