TEHRAN– Initial estimates show no damage to historical sites and monuments in Bandar Kong, an ancient port city in southern Iran, which had been shaken by a 5-magnitude earthquake on Thursday evening.

“Cultural heritage experts are constantly investigating the situation after Kong was hit by an earthquake of five magnitude,” the provincial tourism chief said late on Thursday.

Fortunately, this tremor caused no damage to ancient structures and sites in the ancient port city or nearby areas across Hormozgan province, the official said.

Known as the province of islands, Hormozgan is located on the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf. It embraces scenic islands, among which Kish, Hormuz, Hengam, and Qeshm are the most beautiful ones and top tourist destinations in southern Iran.

The country sits on major seismic faults and experiences one earthquake a day on average. In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people. A magnitude seven earthquake that struck western Iran in 2017 killed over 600 people and injured more than 9,000.

AM