According to the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University, the quake struck at 8:28 pm (1658 GMT) Wednesday, 125 kilometers (80 miles) south of the city of Shiraz.

Alireza Naderi, a provincial official with the Iranian Red Crescent, told IRNA that eight villages, home to 750 families, were damaged but there were no reports of casualties.

He added that two Red Crescent teams, including 60 relief workers along with five ambulances and relief supplies, have been sent to the area.

On December 26, a quake measuring over 6.3 on the Richter scale devastated the southeastern city of Bam, leaving more than 30,000 dead and the same number injured.

The southwest of Iran has also been on earthquake alert after at least 34 tremors jolted the towns of Masjed Soleiman and Izeh, situated in the major oil- and gas-producing province of Khuzestan, over a four-day period last week.

TERRA.WIRE