2 Devastating Earthquakes Hit Iran

Two devastating earthquakes in Iran led to scores of casualties and injuries and wide-spread damage. Photo by BGNES

The two strong earthquakes which hit Iran Saturday have left at least 250 people dead and the death toll is expected to rise.

The first quake struck 23km (14 miles) south-west of Ahar and 58km (36) miles north-east of Tabriz at 16:54 local time (12:23 GMT) on Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey.

The second earthquake struck just 11 minutes after the first, slightly closer to Tabriz.

The quakes had a magnitude of 6.4 and 6.3 on the Richter scale.

As Tabriz, with a population of over 1.5 million and with more solid buildings is relatively intact, more than 2 000 are believed injured, many in outlying villages.

Rescuers are searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors while thousands spent the night in emergency shelters or in the open and there have been more than 55 aftershocks.

Relief agencies are providing survivors with tents, bread and drinking water.

BBC reports that phone lines to many villages have been cut off, and cites locals in Tabriz saying the quake has created huge panic among the people, with everyone rushing to the streets.

The towns of Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province in north-western Iran were among those that suffered casualties and damages.

State TV said at least six villages were totally flattened, with 60 other villages sustaining damage ranging from 50% to 80%.

The timing of the quake, during evening in the holy month of Ramadan, also meant it caught many people indoors as they were resting after fasting during the day.

An Iranian Red Crescent official estimated that 16 000 people had been given emergency shelter in a sports stadium after they were forced to leave their homes.

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