TEHRAN - At least one person was killed and 12 others were injured in the 5.5-magnitude earthquake that hit southern Iran on Thursday, official IRNA news agency reported.

Many buildings in the area were damaged, the chief of Crisis Managament of Hormozgan province Arsalan Bahari Meimandi said, according to IRNA.

"Many of the houses have been damaged and are not suitable for living," a local citizen told IRNA.

The 5.5-magnitude earthquake, with a depth of 20 km and the epicenter at 27.136 degrees north latitude and 54.448 degrees east longitude, hit Bastak city in Iran's southern Hormozgan province on Thursday at 06:43 local time (0313 GMT).