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| Iran earthquakes leave scores dead in Tabriz region | Iran earthquakes leave scores dead in Tabriz region |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two strong earthquakes have struck north-western Iran, leaving at least 180 people dead and more than 1,300 injured, officials say. | Two strong earthquakes have struck north-western Iran, leaving at least 180 people dead and more than 1,300 injured, officials say. |
| The quakes struck near Tabriz and Ahar, but most of the casualties are thought to be in outlying villages. | The quakes struck near Tabriz and Ahar, but most of the casualties are thought to be in outlying villages. |
| Six villages were destroyed, and thousands are spending the night in emergency shelters or in the open. | Six villages were destroyed, and thousands are spending the night in emergency shelters or in the open. |
| Another 60 villages sustained more than 50% damage, and the death toll is expected to rise. | Another 60 villages sustained more than 50% damage, and the death toll is expected to rise. |
| Reports say phone lines to many villages have been cut off, making rescue efforts harder. | Reports say phone lines to many villages have been cut off, making rescue efforts harder. |
| The US Geological Service measured the quakes at magnitude 6.4 and 6.3. | The US Geological Service measured the quakes at magnitude 6.4 and 6.3. |
| The first tremor occured at 16:53 local time (12:23 GMT), according to state TV. | The first tremor occured at 16:53 local time (12:23 GMT), according to state TV. |
| "The quake has created huge panic among the people," one resident of Tabriz told the BBC. "Everyone has rushed to the streets and the sirens of ambulances are everywhere." | "The quake has created huge panic among the people," one resident of Tabriz told the BBC. "Everyone has rushed to the streets and the sirens of ambulances are everywhere." |
| The towns of Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province were among those that suffered casualties, Khalil Saei, local crisis committee chief, told state TV, according to the Associated Press. | The towns of Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province were among those that suffered casualties, Khalil Saei, local crisis committee chief, told state TV, according to the Associated Press. |
| 'My family is terrified' | 'My family is terrified' |
| Dozens of rescue workers have been sent to the region, but relief efforts have been limited overnight. Phone communication in the city of Tabriz has also been disrupted, reports say. | Dozens of rescue workers have been sent to the region, but relief efforts have been limited overnight. Phone communication in the city of Tabriz has also been disrupted, reports say. |
| An Iranian Red Crescent official estimated that 16,000 people have been given emergency shelter after they were forced to leave their homes. | An Iranian Red Crescent official estimated that 16,000 people have been given emergency shelter after they were forced to leave their homes. |
| President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office posted a statement on its website expressing condolences to those in the disaster zone and calling on authorities to "mobilise all efforts to help the affected populations," the AFP news agency reports. | President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office posted a statement on its website expressing condolences to those in the disaster zone and calling on authorities to "mobilise all efforts to help the affected populations," the AFP news agency reports. |
| A provincial official has warned people in the region to stay outdoors overnight because of the risk of aftershocks. | A provincial official has warned people in the region to stay outdoors overnight because of the risk of aftershocks. |
| "My family is really terrified. It is night time now but we cannot sleep," Tabriz resident Amina Zia told the BBC. | "My family is really terrified. It is night time now but we cannot sleep," Tabriz resident Amina Zia told the BBC. |
| "This earthquake was... very strong and violent. | "This earthquake was... very strong and violent. |
| "There were around 10 aftershocks, which lasted a total of 10 minutes." | "There were around 10 aftershocks, which lasted a total of 10 minutes." |
| The two earthquakes came within minutes of each other, according to seismology experts at Tehran University. | The two earthquakes came within minutes of each other, according to seismology experts at Tehran University. |
| Iran straddles a major geological fault like, making it prone to seismic activity. In 2003 an earthquake in the city of Bam left 25,000 people dead. |