TEHRAN, Iran: An earthquake of moderate strength caused damage and injured 100 people in the city of Neyshabour in the northeast part of Iran Thursday afternoon, Iran's state TV reported.

The TV report said 17 of the injured were hospitalized and the others were treated for minor injuries and released.

As the quake rumbled through the area, many residents of the city fled their homes into the streets. Rescue teams were still at work in the area late Thursday.

The magnitude 5.5 quake shattered windows and affected communications for a short time.

It also destroyed walls of homes in some rural areas, the report said.

Residents of several cities and towns 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the epicenter reported feeling the quake.

The quake jolted the city of 220,000 in about 550 miles (900 kilometers) northeast of the capital Tehran at 16:05 local time (13:35 GMT).

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes, experiencing at least one slight quake a day on average.

In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that flattened the historic southeastern city of Bam.