Over 400 People Dead in Earthquake on Iran/Iraq Border
- Updated Nov 13, 2017
A major earthquake devastated part of Iraq and Iran on Sunday. At least 402 people have been reported dead in the 7.3 magnitude quake.
CNN.com reports that this earthquake is the deadliest of 2017. Its epicenter was at Iraq’s northeast border with Iran, near Iran’s Kermanshah province and the town of Sarpol-e-Zahab. The hospital in this town was severely damaged in the quake, which has complicated recovery efforts.
In addition to the 402 people killed in the quake, another 6,650 people were injured.
One witness of the quake’s effects, Majida Ameer, who lives south of Baghdad, said, "I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air. I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: 'Earthquake!'"
Tremors from the earthquake were felt as far away as Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
Rescue efforts are underway in both Iran and Iraq. Crews are digging through rubble trying to find those who may still be alive. Iran has already declared a three-day period of mourning for the dead.
BBC News reports that 70,000 people are in need of shelter following the earthquake.
This was the deadliest quake of 2017, surpassing the death toll from the massive earthquake in Mexico City in September.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/SteveCollender
Publication date: November 13, 2017
