Dubai: Severe tremors were felt in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and other parts of the emirates at around 3.08pm local time forcing people to flee from homes and office.

First tremor reports were received  from people located in parts of Deira and Bur Dubai, Captain Sultan Al Merri, Dubai Police Operations Room, Duty Officer told Gulf News.

The tremors first struck off the coast of Sharjah, measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale.

The jolts were so severe that they were felt by the people living in the first and second floors of the building. Police and Civil Defence department has not reported any material damage or causalities.

The quake sent a wave of panic among the residents and most them rushed out in the open and safe places.

The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) is currently been working on collecting details of the earthquake.

People living and working in Al Quasis, Bur Dubai and Dubai Media City said that the tremors lasted for a few seconds. Residents in Sharjah reported their buildings swaying. 

"My office is in Al Quasis. I was so scared. All the 28 people working in our office ran out of the building," said one worker.

The jolts were caused by a powerful earthquake measures 6.2 that occurred in the south-west of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The epicentre of the quake was 43km west of the Qishm Island in the Arabian Gulf.

According to the European-Mediterran ean Seismological Centre, the depth of the quake was some 50km in the earth.