Magnitude 4.3 earthquake strikes northwestern Iran

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3 struck West Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran early Tuesday, said emergency authorities.

The quake, which struck at 2.44 a.m. local time (2314GMT Monday), had a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) and the epicenter was in the city of Khoy, according to Turkey's National Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

There are no reports of any casualties or damage so far.

West Azerbaijan Province borders Turkey and Iraq.

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, where earthquakes occur often and are destructive.

At least nine people died and 50 others were injured in eastern Turkey on Sunday after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the Iranian border, the country's health minister said.

The northwestern Iranian city of Khoy was hit twice Sunday by 5.9 magnitude earthquakes, and tremors from the quakes were also felt in Turkey's Van province, according to AFAD.