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Iraq-Iran earthquake: Deadly tremor hits border region | Iraq-Iran earthquake: Deadly tremor hits border region |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has rattled the northern border region between Iran and Iraq, killing at least 135 people and injuring hundreds more. | |
At least 129 people died in western Iran's Kermanshah province, officials told state media. | |
Six more were reported dead in Iraq. The death toll is likely to rise. | |
The earthquake sparked panic, with fears of aftershocks sending residents out into the streets. | |
Mosques in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have been broadcasting prayers through loudspeakers. | |
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. | |
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. | |
"The situation there is very critical," Kurdish Health Minister Rekawt Hama Rasheed told Reuters news agency. | |
The quake hit 19 miles (30km) southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. | The quake hit 19 miles (30km) southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. |
The occurred at a depth of 33.9 km (21 miles), and tremors were felt in Turkey, Israel and Kuwait. Iran sits across major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes. |