TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude-5.9 earthquake hit western Iran on Sunday, killing at least three, and injuring 243 others, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

According to Iranian Seismological Center, the focus of the earthquake in the town of Tazeh Abad in Kermanshah Province lied at the depth of 8 km, 34.631 degrees north latitude and 46.220 degrees east longitude.

The earthquake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Lorestan and Ilam, as well as in the border areas of Iraq.

People in Tazeh Abad and nearby villages rushed to the streets in panic following the quake and camped in the parks.

Long queues are reported at the petrol stations in all parts of Kermanshah Province.

According to Mehr, the broken water and power connections, as well as the telephone lines in the quake-hit region, have been fixed.

Red Crescent Society of Kermanshah Province has dispatched 24 rescue teams to Tazeh Abad and the villages affected.

A total of 45 after-shakes, ranging magnitude 2.5-4.1, have taken place in the region.?