The 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Iran’s northwestern city of Khoy and the vicinity on Saturday night. 

The quake happened at 9:44 pm local time, and at a depth of 7 km, according to the Iranian Seismological Center in Tehran.

The tremor was so strong that it was felt in many regions of West Azarbaijan Province, causing concern among residents. It was also felt in several cities, including the provincial capital of Tabriz in the neighboring province of East Azarbaijan.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological center, the quake was also felt in Turkey, Iraq, Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic.

Some of the areas hit by the quake are currently experiencing freezing temperatures and snow. 

Three people died and 973 were injured; all of the injured were taken to local hospitals.

The earthquake caused 20 to 50 percent damage to residential units in 70 villages, according to Governor General of the West Azarbaijan.

Iran sits astride several major faults in the earth's crust, and is prone to frequent earthquakes, many of which have been devastating.

The worst in recent times hit Bam in Southeastern Kerman province in December 2003, killing 31,000 people – about a quarter of its population – and destroying the city's ancient mud-built citadel.

The deadliest quake in the country was in June 1990 and measured 7.7 on the Richter scale. About 37,000 people were killed and more than 100,000 injured in the Northwestern provinces of Gilan and Zanjan. It devastated 27 towns and about 1,870 villages.