TEHRAN, Iran - A strong earthquake rocked southern Iran today, sending tremors across the Persian Gulf.
Iranian state television reported that one person was killed and 15 others were injured.
The country's seismological centre said a magnitude 6 quake struck at 3:15 p.m., with the epicentre 1,350 kilometres south of the capital Tehran, in the region of Bandar Abbas.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the quake's strength at magnitude 6.1.
The Iranian TV also said that tremors caused a power outage and brought minor damages on the Qeshm island.
Across the Gulf waters, residents in Dubai and neighbouring emirates reported feeling shaking that lasted less than a minute.
The tremors sent office workers rushing out of some of the high-rise towers that dot the skyline in the city-state's commercial centre.
Dubai Civil Defence official said they received several calls from panicked residents, saying their beds were shaking and their furniture was collapsing.
"My bed was hitting against the wall," said Rheanne Anderson, a Canadian teacher living in the nearby emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. "There was definitely some shaking."
There were no reports of damage or casualties in the Emirates.
Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one slight earthquake every day on average.
