TEHRAN (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck northern Iran on late Friday evening, residents and seismologists said, killing at least two young children and injuring more than a dozen others.

The 5.9-magnitude earthquake at 11.53 p.m. local time was centered about 76 kilometers (47 miles) from Damghan, a city in the country’s Semnan Province. It struck approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the Iranian Seismological Center.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the strength of the earthquake at 5.7 on the Richter scale, at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The epicenter of the earthquake was centered about 278 kilometers (172 miles) east of Tehran, the Iranian capital, where light earthquake shaking could be felt. “Earthquakes are not usual [here],” a witness told BNO News.

The USGS estimated that approximately 600 people likely perceived ‘very strong’ earthquake shaking as a result of the earthquake, which could potentially result in ‘moderate’ to ‘heavy’ damage depending on the structure of buildings in the area.

“Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist,” the USGS said, while estimating that approximately 500 others likely perceived ‘strong’ shaking.

Additionally, the agency estimated, 79,000 people likely perceived ‘moderate’ shaking while around 2,700,000 others likely perceived ‘light’ shaking.

The extend of the damage was not immediately clear, but the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that a four-year-old girl as well as another young child were killed. At least 15 others were injured in the earthquake, which damaged at least three villages in the province.

A government official told IRNA that rescue operations are underway to dig people out of the rubble from collapsed buildings, but did not say how many people remain trapped.

Light and moderate earthquakes often cause heavy damage and severe casualties in certain parts of the country due to poor construction, especially when they hit during the night when most residents are sleeping.

On July 30, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Torbat-e Heydarieh in the country’s Razavi Khorasan province, injuring around 150 people.

In November 2009, a light 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, injuring more than 700 people.

And on May 28, 2004, a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 283 kilometers (175 miles) west of Friday’s earthquake, killing at least 35 people.

On September 16, 1978, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck about 385 kilometers (239 miles) southeast of Friday’s earthquake, killing at least 18,220 people.

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