5.9-magnitude quake hits NW Iran: report

An earthquake measuring 5.9-magnitude jolted West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran on Saturday night.

The quake occurred at 9:44 p.m. local time (1814 GMT) with its epicenter at Khoy County, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The tremor, occurring at a depth of 7 kilometers, was felt in nearby cities and counties, the report said.

It led to a power blackout in Khoy County, said Tasnim. All schools in the area will be held online on Sunday, according to the provincial education organization.

No casualty has been announced yet, while the extent of damage in the rural areas was estimated to be great, with the worst-damaged villages being those located in Ivughli District, according to reports from the earthquake-hit regions.