TEHRAN – A strong earthquake, whose epicenter was in the Qabala district in the Republic of Azerbaijan, shook the Iranian cities of Parsabad, Bileh Savar and Germi in the northwestern Iranian province of Ardabil on Friday.

The earthquake took place at 9:19 local time and measured 5.7 points on the Richter scale in its epicenter, deep 10 kilometers down the surface of the earth, the Mehr news agency reported.

Ten people were injured as they had hurried away in search of a safe place.

Also a number of houses with poor construction standards were damaged.

SP/PA