Iran quake death toll rises to 306

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Latest death count of the twin earthquakes in Northwest Iran according to the Iranian Health Minister, Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, reached 306.

Relief groups, almost halting rescue efforts and concentrating on relief aid, have tried to provide survivors with, tents, blankets and dried or canned food.

The first quake measured 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and hit Ahar town at 16:53 local time and the second struck Varzaqan shortly after that at 17:00, according to Tehran University's Seismological Center. The epicenter was initially determined to be at 38.49 degrees north latitude and 46.87 degrees east longitude in East Azarbaijan province.

Since then 117 tremors happened, the strongest measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale and according to Datjerdi a total of 30.000 people have been affected by the quakes that were felt in five provinces of West and East Azerbaijan, Ardebil, Zanjan and Gilan.

130 villages have sustained damage ranging from 70 to 100 percent and 20 others were completely destroyed.

Following the disaster, Ayatollah Shabestari, the provincial representative of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for two days of mourning.

End Item