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Iran

One Dead, Nearly 100 Injured After Earthquake Hits Near Tehran

Updated
In Tehran and other cities and towns, the quake sent panicked residents into the streets and parks.
1/14 In Tehran and other cities and towns, the quake sent panicked residents into the streets and parks.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Authorities asked residents to remain calm but said to be prepared for possible aftershocks.
2/14 Authorities asked residents to remain calm but said to be prepared for possible aftershocks.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Some residents set up tents to spend the night outside and lit fires.
3/14 Some residents set up tents to spend the night outside and lit fires.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Gasoline purchases in the six hours after the earthquake reached 10 million liters, more than double the average full-day sales even though it was the middle of the night, the national fuel distributor said.
4/14 Gasoline purchases in the six hours after the earthquake reached 10 million liters, more than double the average full-day sales even though it was the middle of the night, the national fuel distributor said.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
But not everyone stocked up on essential supplies.
5/14 But not everyone stocked up on essential supplies.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Some Tehran residents found refuge in their cars and sought safer ground or just ran their engines for warmth in the cold conditions.
6/14 Some Tehran residents found refuge in their cars and sought safer ground or just ran their engines for warmth in the cold conditions.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Iran lies on a plateau that is highly susceptible to tectonic activity. Hundreds of people were killed in a November earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border that is still fresh in people's minds.
7/14 Iran lies on a plateau that is highly susceptible to tectonic activity. Hundreds of people were killed in a November earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border that is still fresh in people's minds.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
Schools, universities, and government offices would be closed in Tehran, Alborzn, and Qom provinces on December 21, state television said.
8/14 Schools, universities, and government offices would be closed in Tehran, Alborzn, and Qom provinces on December 21, state television said.
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
9/14
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
10/14
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
11/14
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
12/14
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
13/14
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
People started slowly returning to their homes again early on December 21. 
14/14 People started slowly returning to their homes again early on December 21. 
A 5..2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Iranian capital, Tehran, late on December 20, killing one person and injuring nearly 100 more despite causing only minor damage. But tens of thousands of people spent the night outside, bracing for aftershocks.
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Iranian officials say a woman died and nearly 100 people suffered minor injuries after an earthquake struck near Tehran late on December 20, sparking panic in the capital and neighboring areas.

Authorities said on December 21 that the woman died in the town of Malard, close to the epicenter of the 5.2-magnitude earthquake, about 40 kilometers southwest of Tehran.

Morteza Salimi, head of the Iranian Red Crescent's Relief and Rescue Organization, said 97 people were injured, including "50 in Alborz, 34 in the capital, and 12 in Saveh."

The epicenter of the quake was near the towns of Malard and Meshkin Dasht, state media said, adding that it was also felt in Alborz, Qazvin, Qom, Gilan, and Markazi provinces.

More than a dozen aftershocks rippled through the area after the quake, which the Interior Ministry said caused no major damage.

Iran is on many major fault lines and is often hit by damaging earthquakes. Last month, a 7.3-magnitude quake killed more than 600 people in western Iran.

In Tehran and other cities and towns, the latest quake sent panicked residents into the streets and parks, and tens of thousands of people braved the cold to spend the night outside, fearing stronger aftershocks.

People started slowly returning to their homes again in the morning of December 21, the ISNA news agency reported.

Tasnim news agency quoted Minister of Sports Masud Soltanifar as saying sport centers in the cities of Karaj in Alborz Province and Eslamshahr in southern Tehran were open to the public to spend the night.

Some people also took refuge at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic, in southern Tehran.

Schools, universities, and government offices will be closed in Tehran, Alborz, and Qom provinces on December 21, state television said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters
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