According to the Seismological Center of the Institute of Geophysics of Tehran University, the earthquake hit an area near Hojedk in Kerman Province at 01:11 AM (local time).
The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was determined to be at 30.78 degrees north latitude and 57.28 degrees east longitude
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Saberi said that so far, 58 people have been taken to hospitals in Kerman following the strong quake.
The official also emphasized that all of the hospitals of the province are on full alert.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake had jolted the same district in Kerman on Tuesday, which led to the injuring of 17 people, according to the head of the province’s medical emergency center.
Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.
On November 12, Kermanshah was hit by a major 7.3-magnitude quake that killed 620 people according to the latest toll.