"Strong quakes hit Iran, killing at least 180" by Ali Akbar Dareini | The Associated Press, August 11, 2012
TEHRAN, Iran — Two strong earthquakes leveled villages and damaged homes in northwestern Iran on Saturday, killing at least 180 people and injuring more than 1,350 others, state TV reported.
Thousands of people spent the night outdoors as aftershocks rattled the area....
The quakes hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province, the TV report said. At least six villages were totally leveled, and 60 others sustained damage ranging from 50 to 80 percent, it said.
At least 10 aftershocks jolted the same area and were felt in a wide region near the Caspian Sea, causing panic among the population.
Saei urged people in the quake region to stay outdoors and spend the night at parks and open spaces in anticipation of more aftershocks.
Authorities feared the death toll could rise as rescuers were still trying to reach people trapped under rubble and had not yet reached some more remote villages.
Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one earthquake every day on average, although the vast majority are so small they go unnoticed.
In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that flattened the historic southeastern city of Bam.
I remember that. The anthropology professor at the school was heartbroken.
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"As toll mounts, Iran quake victims recount horrors" by Ali Akbar Dareini | Associated Press, August 13, 2012
TEHRAN — Residents of the zone in northwestern Iran hit by powerful twin earthquakes described moments of terror and panic with birds crowing loudly in warning seconds before the ground shook. As the death toll rose Sunday to more than 250 with entire villages leveled, rescuers called off searches for survivors and turned their attention to caring for the 16,000 people left homeless.
At least 20 villages were totally destroyed in the quakes on Saturday that were followed by some 36 aftershocks, state television reported. Ahmad Reza Shajiei, a senior government official in charge of rescue operations, said more than 5,000 tents have been set up to shelter the thousands of displaced who spent the night outdoors.
‘‘The moment the earthquake hit, it was like a snake biting from underground. It was the worst experience of my life,’’ said resident Morteza Javid, 47, from Ahar.
‘‘The walls were shaking and moving from side to side. It took about a minute before I could run out of the house,’’ he said. ‘‘Seconds before the earthquake, crows were making a lot of noise, but I didn’t understand why. It was only after the quake that I learned the crows were warning us.’’
Javid said he drove more than a dozen injured people to hospitals during the night....
The aftershocks were felt in a wide region near the Caspian Sea, causing panic among the people.
Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one earthquake every day on average, although most are so small they go unnoticed.
In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that flattened the historic southeastern city of Bam....
In Washington, the White House sent a message of sympathy for the victims.
‘‘Our thoughts are with the families of those who were lost, and we wish the wounded a speedy recovery,’’ a statement said. “We stand ready to offer assistance in this difficult time.”
Not bombing them might help.
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Related: Iran says foreign help for quake area now welcome
Also see:
"Iran raised its earthquake death toll to 306 Monday, a day after rescuers called off the search for survivors from the rubble of their homes in the country’s northwest, state media reported. The death toll included some 219 women and children."
And my Globe called off the coverage.
Also see:
"Iran raised its earthquake death toll to 306 Monday, a day after rescuers called off the search for survivors from the rubble of their homes in the country’s northwest, state media reported. The death toll included some 219 women and children."
And my Globe called off the coverage.
