A powerful earthquake has hit south-eastern Iran, killing at least seven people and destroying several villages in Kerman province.
The governor of Kerman said hundreds of people had been injured by the 6.5-magnitude quake with the epicentre near the city of Bam.
The quake was also felt in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Bam was devastated by a huge earthquake in 2003 in which tens of thousands died.
Reports said the quake hit Hosseinabad, a small town of a few hundred residents in a sparsely populated region at 2212 local time (1842 GMT).
Telephone contacts to the stricken area have been cut off, Iranian TV reported. Rescue teams have been sent to the area.
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