Earthquake in Iran: Seven people were killed in a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Iran. The quake was near a nuclear station, but no damage to the plant was reported.

The magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit the Bushehr region in southern Iran on Thursday. State television reported that seven people were killed. The report said that the earthquake did no damage at Iran's  only nuclear power plant.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake struck about 8.7 miles northeast of Borazjan, Iran. The quake hit some about 38 miles north of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The station is near the port city of Bushehr, Iran.

Iran's state television put a statement on its website from the Bushehr plant's operators saying the nuclear station sustained no damage in the quake.

State television reported that Bushehr province Gov. Fereidoun Hasanvand said 45 people were injured.

According to reports people fled their homes during the earthquake. Local media said many people were afraid the buildings would crash down on them. The quake was felt in neighboring provinces.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds in a town near Bushehr, Iran, in April. The nuclear plant wasn't damaged.

Iran is situated in a tectonic compression zone. The Arabian plate is moving into the Eurasian plate. More than 90 percent of Iran is crisscrossed by seismic fault lines.

Iran has been struck by nine earthquakes in the last few decades that were stronger than magnitude 6, An earthquake in 2003 killed over 26,000 people in the city of Bam. Scientists say it is likely that more fault lines will be discovered in Iran. They say it's only a matter of time until the country is hit by another major quake.