A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck a remote area in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and causing considerable damage.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit 36km southeast of the western city of Abdanan, in Ilam province, close the border with Iraq.

USGS said the quake struck at 02:32 GMT on Monday, and its epicentre was at a depth of 10km.

Iran's state news agency, IRNA, reported at least 60 injuries and said aftershocks could also be felt in three provinces including Ilam, Lorestan and Khuzestan.

The local governor, Mohammad Reza Morvarid, said an unspecified number of people had been injured but residents were prepared following minor quakes in the area on Sunday.

"Many people have been injured and many buildings have been damaged," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Water, electricity, and telephone lines in Abdanan, were reportedly cut and TV footage showed destroyed houses, buildings and cars in the city.

Iran sits on a series of seismic fault lines and experiences one slight quake a day on average.

In April last year, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Iran and neighbouring Pakistan, killing 40 people.

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