Strong earthquake rattles northeast Iran, injuring 12 people

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 shook buildings in northeast Iran on Friday, injuring 12 people as frightened residents fled their homes for safety, state radio reported.

Provincial official Mohammad Hassan Moheimani told state radio the quake's epicenter was located in a sparsely populated area near the Iran-Turkmenistan border.

"Most of the 12 people were slightly injured as they ran to safety," he said.

A magnitude 5 quake can damage houses and buildings in densely populated areas.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. A December earthquake in Bam, in southeastern Iran, measured 6.6 magnitude and killed 26,000 people.