At least three people died and hundreds were injured in the earthquake measuring 5,9 on the Richter scale that hit the northwestern part of Iran, the state news agency IRNA reported today.

Buildings in dozens of cities were damaged and more than 440 people were injured, according to the report.

Iran 🇮🇷 earthquake, magnitude of 5.9, with 447 casualties.

HYPOTHESIS: Earthquake caused by underground weapons facilities explosions? pic.twitter.com/lAp8lsMYOw

—Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) January 29, 2023

The earthquake occurred at 21:44 on Saturday evening in the province of West Azerbaijan, near the border with Turkey, the Iranian Seismological Center in Tehran said.

The city of Hoi was particularly affected, but the tremors were also felt in other regions.

Last week at least 120 people were injured in another earthquake, which occurred in the northwestern part of the country.