2 dead, 97 injured after M5.2 earthquake hits Tehran, Iran

Two people have died and nearly 100 were injured after a M5.2 earthquake hit near Tehran, capital of Iran on Wednesday, December 20, 2017.

​The quake hit at a depth of 15 km (9.3 miles) at 19:57 UTC (23:27 local time) just 2.8 km (1.7 miles) WSW of Malārd (population 56 745), 20.2 km (12.6 miles) S of Karaj (population 1 448 075) and 40 km (25 miles) E of Tehran (population 8.1 million). The USGS reported the quake as M4.9 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

According to the head of Iran's hospital emergency services, a 70-year-old woman died after suffering a heart attack and a 10-year-old girl died of elevated stress. In total, 97 people were injured and around 50 of them were admitted to hospital.

The quake caused no major damage but tens of thousands of people spent the night outside for fear of aftershocks, AFP reports. Many of them did so in their vehicles with the engines switched on for warmth in the wintry conditions, exacerbating the thick smog that has enveloped the capital all week.

The quake comes after M7.3 on November 12, M6.1 on December 1, M6.0 on December 11, and M6.2 and M6.1 on December 12.

Featured image: Location of December 20 M5.2 earthquake near Tehran, Iran. Credit: Google