UAE residents feel tremors from 5.5 Iran earthquake off Kish island

Residents in Abu Dhabi and the northern parts of the Emirates felt mild earthquake tremors early on Wednesday morning.

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ABU DHABI // People in Abu Dhabi and the northern parts of the country felt tremors from an earthquake early on Wednesday morning.

The epicentre of the 5.5-magnitude quake was off the coast of the Iranian island of Kish.

Tremors were felt in the UAE at 5.32am, but no one was hurt or any property damaged.

“An earthquake measuring 5.5 magnitude jolted off the coast of Kish in the southern parts of Iran,” said a spokesman for the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi.

“Its aftershocks were felt slightly in Abu Dhabi and northern parts of the country.”

The seismic event occurred 10 kilometres under the surface and about 300km from Abu Dhabi.

“We have received calls from the residents of Abu Dhabi but it was very weak and they could barely feel it,” said the spokesman.

Ramkishor Anand, an accountant who lives in Al Barsha, Dubai, said: “I woke up at around five in the morning to pray.

“Then around 30 or 40 minutes later I felt a little shaky for a while but thought that I could be still sleepy and inactive.

“But when I picked up my mobile I found messages of an earthquake then realised that it was a tremor,” Mr Anand said.

Sabir Khan, a Sharjah resident who lives near the cricket stadium, also felt the earthquake.

“I was awake but still lying on the bed,” Mr Khan said. “But when I felt jolts, suddenly I was on my feet. It was for a moment only.”

Many people took to social-media platforms with news of the quake.

One tweet read: “Earthquake felt in #UAE #Dubai#Sharjah!! Hope everyone is safe!”

An Abu Dhabi resident tweeted: “More tremors from Iran this morning – this one woke me up! Anyone else feel it?”

anwar@thenational.ae