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Iran has been struck by its most powerful earthquake for nearly 40 years, with tremors felt across Pakistan, India and the Middle East. The epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude quake was near the south-east city of Khash, close to the Pakistani border, the US Geological Survey said. Offices were evacuated in Abu Dhabi and tall buildings swayed in the Indian capital Delhi, witnesses said. Iranian state TV has reported at least 40 people killed. However, one official was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying he feared hundreds had died. At least five people died in Pakistan, near the border with Iran, hospital and local government officials said. The earthquake struck in the province of Sistan Baluchistan at about 15:14 local time (10:44 GMT), close to the cities of Khash, with a population of nearly 180,000, and Saravan, with 250,000.