Chronicle Editor
TEHRAN/BHAGDAD. – A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between and late on Sunday, killing at least 328 people and injuring an estimated 2,530 more.
As aftershocks continued on Monday and as rescuers sped up their operation, Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed the death toll, saying at least 382 of the injured remain in hospital. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said Sunday’s powerful quake hit close to Halabjah, southeast of Sulaymaniyah, a city in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
The tremor, which was felt as far away as , struck at 9:18pm local time (18:18) GMT. Its epicentre was at a depth of 33.9km. Most of the victims are believed to be in the Iranian town of Sarpol-e Zahab. Iranian media said rescue teams deployed in the area amid fears the death toll will rise.
Crossed by several major fault lines, Iran is one of the world’s most seismically active countries. In 2003, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam in southeastern Iran, killing some 26,000 people. On the other side of the border, Sulaymaniyah officials declared an emergency in the early hours of Monday to assess the aftermath of the quake, according to local Kurdish media.
At least seven people were killed in Iraq, reports said, citing Iraq’s interior ministry. Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, said cars came to a standstill in the city as the buildings began to sway.
“Baghdad is not prone to earthquakes so when people began to come outside, the shock was visible on the faces,” he said.
“For the first few seconds, I actually thought an explosion had taken place, but as it carried on – for up to a minute – I realised it was an earthquake,” he added.
Pictures and footage published on social media showed people seeking safety in the streets of Sulaymaniyah while the interiors of buildings shook. –
Online Reporter