Quake Rocks Southeast Iran, Scores Dead

"One thing is sure: the historic quarter of Bam has been completely destroyed and many of our countrymen are in the ruins," he was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as having said.

The director of the Iranian Red Crescent, Mehdi Ebna, was quoted by IRNA news agency as saying: "The number of deaths is not yet known but rescue teams have been sent to the region."

Bam is situated about 1000 kilometers ( 620miles) south-east from the capital Tehran.

Telephone communications with the towns of Bam, Giroft and Kohnuj had been cut off.

The Strasbourg Observatory in France said the quake was the most powerful in the region since1998 .

Earthquakes are very frequent in Iran. Since 1991 nearly1 , 000tremors have claimed some17 , 600lives and injured53 , 000people, according to official figures.