Magnitude 5.6 quake causes damages in IranFebruary 18, 2021 - 10:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A relatively strong earthquake struck Iran’s southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad on Wednesday, February 17 night, injuring at least 35 people and causing damage in rural areas, Tasnim reports. The temblor, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, rocked the town of Sisakht at 22:05 local time. The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was close to a mountainous region on the border between the provinces of Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. At least 35 people have been injured after the earthquake, which caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive. The deadliest quake in Iran's modern history happened in June 1990. It destroyed the northern cities of Rudbar, Manjil, and Lushan, along with hundreds of villages, killing an estimated 37,000 people. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The Prosecutor’s Office has released surveillance footage and said that one of the detainees in the case, Iveri Melashvili. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |