Earthquake hits Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Papua New Guinea

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Earthquake hits Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Papua New Guinea

Last updated: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 2:22 PM

JEDDAH — Tremors were felt across Dammam, Al-Khobar, other parts of the Gulf region, Iran, India, and Papua New Guinea.

The strong 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Iran near the border with Pakistan, at 10:44 GMT on Tuesday at a depth of 73 miles, the US Geological survey said. Iran's Seismological Center also reported the quake on its website.

The epicenter of the quake, was located about 81 kilometres north of Saravan in the southeastern province of Sistan Baluchistan, it said.

In New Delhi, strong tremors shook tall buildings, sending people running into the streets, Reuters witnesses said.

In Papua New Guinea, the earthquake was a magnitude of 5.6. It hit 125 kilometers (77 miles) southwest of the town of Panguna on Bougainville Island at 8:00 pm local time (10:00 GMT), at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Strong earthquakes are common in the impoverished country, which sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

A giant tsunami in 1998 killed more than 2,000 people near Aitape, on the country's northwest coast. — SG/Agencies