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Iran: Quake Toll Has Hit 250

Rescuers work through the night to free people trapped in rubble

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 12, 2012 8:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – The death toll from twin earthquakes that rattled Iran yesterday has hit 250, state media reported today, with more than 2,000 people injured and thousands more sleeping in the open after their homes were destroyed. More than 1,000 rescuers labored through the night to pull people trapped in the rubble, though search efforts were called off today, reports the AP. Iran sits on seismic fault lines and experiences an average of a quake a day. A 6.2 earthquake hit last night in China's far west.

Medics treat an injured man after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Medics treat an injured man after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Ali Hamed Haghdoust)
Residents sit at the side of a street after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Residents sit at the side of a street after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Kazem Yousefi)
Victims lie injured at the courtyard of a hospital after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Victims lie injured at the courtyard of a hospital after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Kamel Rouhi)
Victims lie injured at the courtyard of a hospital after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Victims lie injured at the courtyard of a hospital after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Kamel Rouhi)
Victims of an earthquake sit over the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Victims of an earthquake sit over the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Hamed Nazari)
A woman talks as she tends her injured loved one after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
A woman talks as she tends her injured loved one after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Ali Hamed Haghdoust)
A woman lies injured on a stretcher in a street after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
A woman lies injured on a stretcher in a street after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Hamed Nazari)
Ruins of a houses are seen after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Ruins of a houses are seen after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Hamed Nazari)
Ruins of a house is seen after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Ruins of a house is seen after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Hamed Nazari)
A man stretchers a woman who was injured in earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
A man stretchers a woman who was injured in earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Kazem Yousefi)
Medics tend a woman who was injured in an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.
Medics tend a woman who was injured in an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012.   (Kazem Yousefi)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
IrishIntellect
Aug 12, 2012 9:19 PM CDT
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. So many innocent people killed, injured, and/or displaced. May God be with all of you during this terrible tragedy.
JoeQ
Aug 12, 2012 12:09 PM CDT
It's sort of paradoxical how the world can tell when and where earthquakes happen almost instantly, thanks to seismometers and the internet, but it always takes hours for the news of significant earthquake damage to trickle out.  The more devastation, the longer it takes for the local news to get out.  China had a 6.3 this morning and still no peep in the news.  Maybe that means it too was big, maybe the opposite.
njgreen
Aug 12, 2012 10:33 AM CDT
Israel has a lot of experience with rescuing people trapped under rubble, due to all the terrorist attacks of the past. Because of this, Israel has been able to send earthquake assistance - rescue workers, machinery, medical technicians - to many countries over the years. Now is the time for a bold and visionary Israeli leader to offer immediate earthquake assistance to Iran. Do we have that leader?

 
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