Earthquake kills 450 in Iran and Iraq as survivors battle the cold

MENA

Published: 2017-11-14 09:51

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 05:07


Earthquake kills 450 in Iran and Iraq as survivors battle the cold
Earthquake kills 450 in Iran and Iraq as survivors battle the cold

Thousands of Iranians have spent a second night in the bitter cold after a devastating earthquake hit the border region of Iran and Iraq on Sunday, killing at least 450 people and injuring thousands.

The quake, which measured 7.4 on the Richter scale struck the mountainous region of Western Iran, home to Kurdish farming communities, late on Sunday evening as many people were at home asleep.

Rescue operations have ended as the relief effort shifts to helping the many left homeless.

Thousands huddled in makeshift camps on Monday evening or slept outside for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks.

Iran has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning and President Hassan Rouhani is due to visit the region on Tuesday.

In Tehran, thousands of people waited in lines to donate blood after a call from the government.

Across the border in Iraq, health officials said that at least 6 people were killed and another 68 injured, adding that in the northern Iraqi Kurdish regions at least 7 were killed and 325 wounded.

The Arab Red Crescent said that roughly 70,000 people across the area were in need of shelter. Tremors were felt as far away as Turkey, Kuwait and the UAE.