An earthquake measuring 6.1 has rocked southern Iran, the US Geological Service has said. The tremor struck at 0630 (1100 GMT), west-south-west of Bandar Abbas, about 55 kilometres (35 miles) below ground, the agency said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Iran has been struck by several severe quakes in recent years, the deadliest in 2003, when 25,000 people died in the ancient city of Bam.