Iran’s Bushehr nuke plant unaffected by earthquake – official

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran’s first nuclear power plant in Bushehr was not affected by the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday, April 16, Russia’s Federal Atomic Agency Rosatom said.

“The plant did not even feel any tremors as a result of the earthquake.” RIA Novosti quoted a Rosatom representative as saying.

At least 40 people were killed when a huge earthquake struck southeastern Iran on Tuesday, according Press TV. The earthquake, with an estimated force of 7.5 on the Richter scale, hit the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan near the border with Pakistan at 03:44 pm local time.

The Bushehr NPP is located about 160 kilometers away from the quake-stricken areas.

The Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC) said the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at a depth of 18 kilometers (11 miles), was 95 kilometers (57 miles) north of the city of Saravan, the IRNA news agency said.

Shockwaves were felt in neighboring countries and as far away as India's capital New Delhi. The earthquake was also felt in the Persian Gulf's littoral states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.