A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit a small town in western Iran near the Iraqi border, State TV reports on Thursday.

Mehr news agency says the quake hit the "sparsely populated area" near the town of Mourmouri at 2:39 p.m, 300 miles (480 kilometers) southwest of the capital Tehran.

According to the agency, people rushed out of their homes. Mehr news agency reports no casualties, however according to different reports at least 12 people have been injured.