At Least 260 Dead, More than 2,100 injured, in Iran Earthquake (Updated)
Latest update: August 12th, 2012
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Photo Credit: BBC screen shot
Two strong earthquakes struck northwest Iran on Saturday, killing 250 people and injuring more than 2,000, with many buildings being reduced to rubble, and completely destroying 6 villages according to Iranian officials.
Thousands are fleeing their homes and staying outdoors, fearing more damage from aftershocks – at least 20 of which have hit the region.
Casualty figures will probably continue to rise, say Iranian officials, since many of the injured are in critical condition, and many civilians are still trapped under the rubble.
Iran is situated between two major fault lines and has endured a few devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 which demolished the southeastern historic city of Bam and killed at least 25,000 people.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured Saturday’s first quake at 6.4 magnitude and said it struck 60 km (37 miles) northeast of the city of Tabriz at a depth of 9.9 km (6.2 miles). A second quake measuring 6.3 struck 49 km (30 miles) northeast of Tabriz 11 minutes later at a similar depth.
Tabriz is a major city and trading hub far from Iran’s oil producing areas. Though buildings in the city are substantially built, homes and businesses in Iranian villages are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake.
A second quake struck near the town of Varzaghan. “The quake was so intense that people poured into the streets through fear,” the Fars news agency reported.
About 210 people in Varzaghan and Ahar have been rescued from under the rubble of collapsed buildings, the official IRNA news agency said, quoting a local official.
“So far 73 bodies from Varzaghan and Ahar have been handed over to the coroner’s office,” IRNA quoted Bahram Samadirad, a provincial official from the office, as saying.
He added, “Since some people are in a critical condition and rescue workers are still trying to rescue people from under the rubble, unfortunately it is possible for the number of casualties to rise.”
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The Iranian people affected by the two devastating earthquakes on Saturday need shelter, food, medicine and doctors. The United Nations should make every effort to help them, and so should the United States. We are not made of stone — despite our grave differences with the Iranian regime.
This is a time for all of us to come together as a world community and offer relief to those in need, no matter what country they are from. Shivering cold, hunger and pain have no regime ideology, and none should stand in the way of our natural inclination to help.
George, the wise men of old said that those who are merciful to the cruel are cruel to the merciful. G-d made this happen; so, let G-d sort it out, IMO, otherwise they will be at your house tomorrow to kill you, your wife and kids. Israel has offered help to those countries (i.e. Turkey) when they had such a disaster and they flatly rejected our help. I am sure that Israel will continue to offer help to those who want to kill us but IMO it will not be accepted by those who hate us and want us dead. Nevertheless, we in Israel will be counted as merciful and hopefully not stupid.
Maybe this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back and causes the people to go out into the streets again and demand the end to this regime.
Wouldn't send a dime to them. The way they pass out candy when Jews and Americans are killed- not a single dime.
I just hope the earthquake didn't hit any nuclear plants. Wherever they be, they aren't safe in Iran. Either the earth, the Mullahs, or Gxd himself are waiting for a disaster.