Iran earthquake: Major quake strikes near nuclear power plant on crucial day

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck 10km southeast of Borazjan in Iran with a magnitude of 4.9. The quake also struck at a depth of 10km.

Borazjan is a almost a 70km drive away from Bushehr.

The quake struck at 3.19am this morning.

The depth and epicentre of the quake indicate that it was a natural event and unrelated to Iran’s attack on US airbases in Iraq.

A similar earthquake struck in late December.

At the 2006 census, Basher’s population was 161,674, in 40,771 families.

Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast.

Its location is about 1,218 kilometres (757 mi) south of Tehran, and has a desert climate.

It comes as missiles struck multiple locations in Iraq where the US military were reportedly based.

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It is believed the attack was in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s assassination of Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani.

Earlier, a Ukranian passenger jet also crashed near Tehran in the early hours of this morning.

All 170 passengers on board have been pronounced dead.

Iranian Fars News Agency said the plane suffered technical problems then went down after take off.