VIDEO: Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Iran, tremors felt in UAE

The seismology observatories of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) monitored an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale that struck southern Iran at 2.58pm local time on Monday.

The NCM noted that the tremors of the quake were slightly felt by some residents in the northern parts of the country.

The Centre told Al Khaleej’s sister publication Gulf Today, that it received several calls from individuals who felt the tremors in Khorfakkan, north of Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and those living in the residential towers on the Corniche Road in the Emirate of Dubai.

A video circulated on social media showed light bulbs in an apartment shaking. The earthquake was focused near the town of Kukherd in the southern province of Hormozgan, Iran.

It is not known if there were any possible casualties or material damage from the earthquake. However, the country’s emergency department said there was no known damage or injuries, though local authorities in southern province of Hormozgan said rescue teams were still investigating.

The NCM confirmed that the earthquake had no impact on the country, and that it was only a tremor as a result of the earthquake, pointing out that it was following up the situation around the clock.

It appealed to all to follow the bulletins and news issued by the Centre and ignore any other information issued by non-authorised bodies.

On the other hand, the NCM expects the weather on Tuesday to be sunny to partly cloudy in general; some clouds will appear eastward, might be convective by afternoon.

It could be humid by night and Wednesday morning over coastal and internal areas with a chance of fog and mist formation. Light to moderate Southeasterly to Northeasterly winds, with a speed of 15–25, reaching 36km/hr were probable; waves could be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman.