Two dead, 255 injured in Iran earthquake

TEHRAN: A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early on Sunday, killing two people and injuring more than 250, officials said.

The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds.

Kermanshah Governor Houshang Bazvand told state broadcaster IRIB that two people were killed and 255 injured.

The head of the emergency department at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.

State news agency Irna quoted local officials saying that electricity had been cut to 70 villages but that it was restored to at least 50 by dawn.

It added that there had been more than 65 aftershocks.

Bazvand said at least 500 buildings had been destroyed and would need to be completely rebuilt.

There were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but the local Red Crescent Chief Mohammad Reza Amirian, said it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents.

A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert.

But the local Director of Crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that “the situation was under control” and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces.