TIMELINE-Major earthquakes in Iran

(Reuters) - A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Iran on Wednesday near Bandar Abbas, site of a major Iranian oil refinery, the U.S. Geological Service said.

Iran's state-owned Press TV described the tremor as strong but said there were no reports of casualties.

Here is a chronology of some of the major earthquakes in Iran in the last four decades.

Apr 10, 1972 - An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck southern Iran around Ghir Karzin, killing 5,374 people.

Mar 22, 1977 - 167 people were killed when an earthquake struck the southeastern coastal region around the town of Bandar Abbas. It measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.

Apr 6/7, 1977 - 352 people were killed when an earthquake struck Isfahan province. It measured 6.5 on the Richter scale.

Dec 21, 1977 - An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck the town of Zarand in Kerman Province, killing 521 people.

Sept 16, 1978 - 15,000 people were killed by an earthquake measuring between 7.5 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, which levelled the town of Tabas and many nearby villages.

Jan 16, 1979 - An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Khorasan province, killing 199 people.