TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A strong earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit southern Iran on Sunday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    At least five people were killed and dozens wounded, according to the report.

    The quake hit the southern Iranian coastline at around 1:30 p.m.(1000 GMT), the IRNA reported, adding that the epicenter of the quake was at the Qeshm Island near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

    Four villages were badly damaged in the powerful shake, IRNA quoted local officials as saying.

    Iran is a quake-prone country.

    An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 jolted the Zarand town in southern Iran in February, killing over 600 people and wounding some 1,400 others.

    In one of the worst quake disasters, over 31,000 people were killed by a quake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale in the southeastern city of Bam in December, 2003. Enditem