The Iranian Red Crescent, quoted by the official news agency ISNA, put the death toll at 45, with the casualties occurring in the provinces of Qazvin and Mazandaran.

However, state radio put the toll at 25 dead and 200 injured.

The second severe quake to hit Iran in less than six months struck at about 5:00 pm (1330 GMT). Reports on its magnitude varied, but most said it measured at least 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Its epicenter was located in the Mazandaran province town of Baladeh, 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Tehran

Tehran University's Geophysics institute measured a further 65 aftershocks ranging from 1.6 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale.

TERRA.WIRE