An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook East Azarbaijan Province at 02:17 local time (22:47 GMT) and was felt in four nearby provinces in northwestern Iran.

Iran Press/Iran News: According to the Seismological Center of the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University, the epicenter of the tremor was Tark, 118 km to the east of provincial capital Tabriz, at the depth of eight km underground.

A local emergency service spokesman said eight assessment teams have been dispatched to the quake-hit area.

There were no early reports of possible casualties or damages of the trembler which was also felt in West Azarbaijan, Ardebil, Gilan and Alborz provinces.

Iran is prone to earthquakes and sits on major fault lines.

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