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Iran-Iraq earthquake: Deadly tremor hits border region | Iran-Iraq earthquake: Deadly tremor hits border region |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken the northern border region between Iran and Iraq, killing at least 214 people and injuring more than 2,800. | |
One Iranian aid agency said 70,000 people needed shelter after the quake, one of the largest this year. | |
Most of those who died were in Iran's western Kermanshah province, officials told state media. | Most of those who died were in Iran's western Kermanshah province, officials told state media. |
At least seven more died in Iraq, where people fled into the streets in the capital, Baghdad. | |
Mosques in the city have been broadcasting prayers through loudspeakers. | Mosques in the city have been broadcasting prayers through loudspeakers. |
"I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air," a Baghdad mother-of-three, Majida Ameer, told Reuters news agency. | "I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air," a Baghdad mother-of-three, Majida Ameer, told Reuters news agency. |
"I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: 'Earthquake!'" | "I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: 'Earthquake!'" |
The Iranian news agency Isna quoted health officials as saying 2,500 people had been wounded. | |
Most of the victims were in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, about 15km (10 miles) from the border, Iran's emergency services chief, Pir Hossein Koolivand was quoted as saying on Iranian state television channel IRINN. | Most of the victims were in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, about 15km (10 miles) from the border, Iran's emergency services chief, Pir Hossein Koolivand was quoted as saying on Iranian state television channel IRINN. |
The town's main hospital was severely damaged, leaving it struggling to treat hundreds of wounded, state TV reported. | The town's main hospital was severely damaged, leaving it struggling to treat hundreds of wounded, state TV reported. |
Many homes in the mountainous area are made of mud bricks and are at risk of collapse in a significant earthquake like the one that struck on Sunday. | |
Damage was reported in at least eight villages, the head of Iran's Red Crescent Organisation, Morteza Salim, told the channel. | Damage was reported in at least eight villages, the head of Iran's Red Crescent Organisation, Morteza Salim, told the channel. |
"Some other villages have suffered power cuts and their telecommunications system has also been disturbed," he said. | "Some other villages have suffered power cuts and their telecommunications system has also been disturbed," he said. |
Rescue teams were being hampered by landslides, Mr Koolivand said. | Rescue teams were being hampered by landslides, Mr Koolivand said. |
On the Iraqi side, the most extensive damage was in the town of Darbandikhan, 75km (47 miles) east of the city of Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan Region. | On the Iraqi side, the most extensive damage was in the town of Darbandikhan, 75km (47 miles) east of the city of Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan Region. |
"The situation there is very critical," Kurdish Health Minister Rekawt Hama Rasheed told Reuters. | "The situation there is very critical," Kurdish Health Minister Rekawt Hama Rasheed told Reuters. |
The Iraqi ministry of health said 321 people had been wounded in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. | |
The quake hit at 21:18 local time (18:18 GMT) about 19 miles (30km) southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. | The quake hit at 21:18 local time (18:18 GMT) about 19 miles (30km) southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. |
It occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 23.2 km (14.4 miles), and tremors were felt in Turkey, Israel and Kuwait. Iran sits across major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes. |