Iran’s Nuclear Site Hit By 4.9 Magnitude Earthquake

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake has struck in Bushehr where Iran’s sole nuclear power plant is located.

 

The earthquake hit 10km south-east of Borazjan, around 30 miles away from the country’s Bushehr site, at 3.19am this morning.

 

There are no reports of casualties or damage from the earthquake, according to the state run IRNA news agency.

The earthquake had hit barely hours after Iran fired missiles at two military bases in Iraq where US troops are based.

 

Iran said that the attack is in retaliation for the US airstrike that killed senior Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

 

More than a dozen ballistic missiles were launched from Iran which struck two air bases in Irbil and Al Asad, west of Baghdad at 2:00am local time (10.30pm GMT).

It still remains unclear whether there have been any casualties as a result of the strikes.

 

So far, according to IRNA news agency, the U.S. forces suffered 80 casualties but the American side are yet to come with a figure to the casualties.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump had tweeted that ‘all is well’ and that casualties and damage were being assessed as at the moment.

 

In the meantime, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometres, indicating that it was a natural event and not linked to Iran’s missile attacks on US airbases.

 

A handout intensity map made available by the United States Geological Survey shows the location of a magnitude 4,9 earthquake which hit at a depth of 10km, near the city of Borazjan, Iran, 08 January 2020.

 

According to media reports, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake which occurred near the Bushehr nuclear plant.

 

Iran has begun loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant on Tuesday, one of the last steps to realising its stated goal of becoming a peaceful nuclear power, state-run Press TV reported on Tuesday.