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Tehran, Jan 2 (Prensa Latina) One person was killed and dozens were wounded by a 55 magnitude quake that rocked southern Iran. A large number of buildings were damaged, according to preliminary reports by specialized media.

The seism occurred at 06:43 local time in the city of Bastak, in Hormuzgan province, reported IRNA news agency, adding that relief workers and emergency assistance were sent to the area.

The Geophysics Institute of the University of Tehran said the epicentre of the seism was located at 54.4 degrees of longitude and 27.14 degrees of latitude.

Several moderate quakes had rocked areas in southeastern Iran in the last few days without causing damages or victims.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is located over tangled tectonic faults and is prone to frequent quakes, some of them devastating, like the 6.6 magnitude that rocked the southeastern city of Bam in 2006.