Death toll rises in-Iran earthquake | Iran earthquake

A magnitude 5.1 (USGS) to 5.5 (Iranian state media) earthquake rattled northern Iran on Friday, June 20, 2025, local time.

Here are the key details:

• Magnitude: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake as magnitude 5.1. Iranian state-run media, however, reported it as magnitude 5.5, with some sources even citing 5.2.
• Time: The quake occurred at approximately 9:19 p.m. local time (Iran) on Friday, June 20, 2025. This translates to around 5:49 PM UTC or 6:49 PM WAT.
• Location: Its epicenter was near the city of Semnan, roughly 170 kilometers (105 miles) to the east of Tehran. Specifically, the USGS pinpointed it as 36 km (22 miles) southwest of Semnan.
• Depth: The earthquake was relatively shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).
• Impact: Tremors were reportedly felt as far away as the capital, Tehran.
• Damage/Casualties: As of the latest reports, there have been no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties from the earthquake. Authorities in Iran described it as moderate in strength.

• Context with Tensions: The earthquake occurred amidst heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with ongoing reports of strikes and counter-strikes between the two nations. The proximity of the earthquake’s epicenter to a region with significant military and missile facilities (including the Semnan Space Center and Semnan Missile Complex) has led to some unconfirmed speculation on social media, though Iranian media has not commented on any tests.

Iran is a seismically active region, situated on major fault lines, and experiences frequent earthquakes.