Earthquake jolts northeast Iran

An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale hit Jajarm in North Khorassan province in northeast Iran on Monday. The epicenter of the quake was reported at 56.35 degrees longitude and 36.90 degrees latitude, according to Iran’s (IRNA) News Agency. There has been no report on probable human or material losses. Iran sits astride several major fault-lines on the earth, and is prone to frequent earthquakes, many of which have been devastating. The deadliest quake in the country occurred in June 1990 measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale. Some 37,000 people were killed and more than 100,000 injured in the northern provinces of Gilan and Zanjan.