This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19231118#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Iran quakes death toll rises to 250, as search goes on Iran earthquake relief efforts begin after 250 killed
(about 1 hour later)
Rescuers in Iran are searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors from two strong earthquakes which left at least 250 people dead. Relief operations are under way in Iran after two strong earthquakes in the north-west left at least 250 people and more than 2,000 injured.
The 6.4 and 6.3 quakes struck near Tabriz and Ahar on Saturday afternoon, and more than 2,000 are believed injured, many in outlying villages. The 6.4 and 6.3 quakes struck near Tabriz and Ahar on Saturday afternoon, with more than 55 aftershocks reported over the following hours.
Thousands spent the night in emergency shelters or in the open and there have been more than 55 aftershocks. More than 100 villages are damaged - thousands of people spent the night in emergency shelters or in the open.
Relief agencies are providing survivors with tents, bread and drinking water.Relief agencies are providing survivors with tents, bread and drinking water.
The BBC's Mohsen Asgari, in the capital Tehran, says hundreds of people were rescued overnight but that the continuing aftershocks have made the operation exhausting work. The BBC's Mohsen Asgari, in the capital Tehran, says hundreds of people were rescued overnight but that the aftershocks made the operation exhausting work.
The numbers of victims is expected to rise, say our correspondent.
'Mass grave''Mass grave'
All the deaths reported so far have been in rural areas, said local officials, an indication of the poorer quality of housing outside urban areas. On Sunday, Hassan Ghadami, Iran's deputy interior minister, said that "all those under debris have been rescued and the quake-stricken people are now being provided with their basic needs," the official Fars news agency reported.
Reports say phone lines to many villages have been cut off, confining rescuers to radio contact. "We hope that the death toll will not increase any more."
Local officials said all the reported deaths have been in rural areas, an indication of the poorer quality of housing outside urban areas.
"This village is a mass grave," said Alireza Haidaree, who had been searching for survivors in his home of Baje Baj.
"There are so many other villages that have been completely destroyed," he told AFP. Locals said 33 of the villages 414 residents had died.
"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 in north-western Iran were among those that suffered casualties, local crisis committee chief Khalil Saei told state TV according to the Associated Press.The towns of Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province in north-western Iran were among those that suffered casualties, local crisis committee chief Khalil Saei told state TV according to the Associated Press.
Fars reported that about 110 villages had been damaged, at least four totally flattened and 60 others sustained extensive damage.
Reports say phone lines to many villages were cut off, confining rescuers to radio contact.
"The magnitude of the disaster is so huge that officials are just managing to get enough people in from other provinces to help out," one Iranian Red Crescent worker told the AFP news agency."The magnitude of the disaster is so huge that officials are just managing to get enough people in from other provinces to help out," one Iranian Red Crescent worker told the AFP news agency.
Iran's Deputy Interior Minister Hassan Ghadami told the official Fars news agency that about 110 villages had been damaged. Dozens of families spent the night outdoors in parks, and television showed footage of bodies lying on the floor of a morgue in Ahar, including those of children.
State TV said at least six villages were totally flattened, with 60 other villages sustaining damage ranging from 50% to 80%.
"This village is a mass grave," said Alireza Haidaree, who had been searching for survivors in his home of Baje Baj.
"There are so many other villages that have been completely destroyed," he told AFP. Locals said 33 of the villages 414 residents had died.
Stadium shelterStadium shelter
Sixty-six rescue teams have been sent to the region, along with about 200 ambulances and five helicopters. Sixty-six rescue teams have been sent to the affected region, along with about 200 ambulances and five helicopters.
"Unfortunately there are still a number of people trapped in the rubble but finding them is very difficult because of the darkness," news agency Fars quoted national emergency head Gholam Reza Masoumi as saying.
State TV broadcast footage of dozens of families sleeping outdoors in parks, and bodies lying on the floor of a morgue in Ahar, including those of children.
As morning came, search teams with sniffer dogs began working through the wreckage in Tabriz.As morning came, search teams with sniffer dogs began working through the wreckage in Tabriz.
The timing of the quake, towards the end of the day in the holy month of Ramadan, meant it caught many people indoors as they preparing to break their day of fasting. There were reports that in some areas many of the victims were women, who had been inside homes preparing evening meals to break the Ramadan fast.
A Red Crescent official estimated that 16,000 people had been given emergency shelter in a sports stadium after they were forced to leave their homes. One farmer from the village of Qanbar Mehdizade said he and his family survived because they had been working in the open fields at the time.
The organisation has provided 3,000 tents, blankets, tonnes of food and blood supplies. "I was working on my farm, on my tractor, and I felt the earth shake and I was thrown off the vehicle," he told AFP.
A Red Crescent has provided 3,000 tents, blankets, tonnes of food and blood supplies, it also took over a sports stadium to provide emergency shelter to about 16,000 people who had fled their homes.
A provincial official warned people to stay outdoors overnight because of the risk of aftershocks.
The Turkish Red Crescent said it was sending a truck full of emergency supplies to the border.The Turkish Red Crescent said it was sending a truck full of emergency supplies to the border.
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," AFP 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," AFP reports.
A provincial official warned people 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.
"This earthquake was... very strong and violent.
The first quake struck 23km (14 miles) south-west of Ahar and 58km (36) miles north-east of Tabriz at 16:54 local time (12:23 GMT) on Saturday, said the US Geological Survey.The first quake struck 23km (14 miles) south-west of Ahar and 58km (36) miles north-east of Tabriz at 16:54 local time (12:23 GMT) on Saturday, said the US Geological Survey.
The second earthquake struck just 11 minutes after the first, slightly closer to Tabriz.The second earthquake struck just 11 minutes after the first, slightly closer to Tabriz.
Iran straddles a major geological fault line, making it prone to seismic activity. In 2003 an earthquake in the city of Bam left more than 25,000 people dead.Iran straddles a major geological fault line, making it prone to seismic activity. In 2003 an earthquake in the city of Bam left more than 25,000 people dead.
Are you in the region? Did you feel the earthquake? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in the region? Did you feel the earthquake? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions