5 Dead After String of Quakes Hit Hormozgan

A series of earthquakes struck the southern Hormozgan province early Saturday, killing five and injuring at least 84 in the quake-prone region. 
One of Saturday’s earthquakes, a magnitude 6.1 at a depth of 10 km, hit Bandar-e Khamir at 2:02 in the morning and killed three men and two women, ISNA reported.
Most damages occurred in the small village of Sayekhosh where over 450 houses were completely destroyed.  
“The village of Sayekhosh, as the center of today’s earthquakes, has been completely destroyed,” Hormozgan Governor-General Mahdi Dousti told reporters. 
Local authorities declared a state of emergency and closed down all workplaces for the day but the national university entrance exam was nevertheless held as planned. All hospitals and emergency units have been placed on alert.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the area and tents were set up to accommodate distressed citizens who lost their homes to the massive earthquakes.
Starting at two in the morning, the Iranian Seismological Center began registering a string of earthquakes in the region, especially close to Bandar-e Lengeh and Bandar-e Khamir. 
At least 33 quakes and aftershocks have been reported so far, prompting fear in residents who left their homes in the middle of night in search of safe open spaces. 
Power outages were reported in at least 53 villages. By Saturday noon, powers were still off in five villages. Tremors were felt across the Persian Gulf and as far as the United Arab Emirates. 
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi arrived in the province at noon to personally visit the affected region. 
“Some 2,500 food packages have been prepared and are being distributed among the public,” Vahidi said. 
“The government is by the side of people affected by the quake,” he added. 
Authorities have opened stadium doors to residents and asked people to not stay at home for the time being. 
Out of the succession of earthquakes that hit Hormozgan on Saturday, two measured 6.1 and 6.3 magnitude. The other registered quakes and aftershocks were less severe, ranging from less than 3 magnitude to 6. 
Over the past few weeks, Hormozgan has been hit by more than 100 earthquakes and aftershocks.