By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/hundreds-killed-as-powerful-earthquake-strikes-iran-iraq-border Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Hundreds killed as powerful earthquake strikes Iran-Iraq border World Updated on Nov 16, 2017 9:00 AM EDT — Published on Nov 13, 2017 9:25 AM EDT A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the northern Iran-Iraq border region Sunday, killing more than 500 people in both countries and injuring thousands. Iranian media on Tuesday increased the death toll to 530 with 7,460 injured. The quake hit at 9:18 p.m. local time about 20 miles from the eastern Iraqi city of Halabjah. It left gaping holes in mosques, sheared walls off apartment buildings and cracked parts of Iraq’s Diyala River dam. Part of an apartment building fell in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah, Iran. Photo by Tasnim News Agency via Reuters “Immediately after I managed to get out (of the apartment), the building collapsed. I have no access to my belongings,” said Kokab Fard, a 49-year-old housewife in Sarpol-e-Zahab, Iran, reported the Associated Press. Tens of thousands of Iranians slept outside in the mountainous border area as they awaited aid. The adobe block and low-rise, non-ductile (brittle) concrete buildings in the region are vulnerable to earthquakes, and other recent temblors in the area have caused landslides, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Map shows location of earthquake on Iraq-Iran border with a yellow star. Click on the map for a larger version. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani planned to visit the damaged areas on Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi directed government agencies to respond to the disaster. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 33 aid trucks with tents, blankets and food to the Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah. The World Health Organization airlifted medical supplies for hospitals treating the injured in western Iran’s Kermanshah province. The U.S. State Department issued the following statement: “The United States expresses its sincere condolences to all of those affected by the earthquake in Iran and Iraq. We keep the families of those who were killed, and injured, in our thoughts as well as the communities that have suffered damage to homes and property.” People survey the damage in Darbandikhan, Iraq, on Nov. 13. Photo by Ako Rasheed/Reuters People remove rubble from a damaged mosque in Khanaqin, Iraq. Photo by a Reuters stringer We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the northern Iran-Iraq border region Sunday, killing more than 500 people in both countries and injuring thousands. Iranian media on Tuesday increased the death toll to 530 with 7,460 injured. The quake hit at 9:18 p.m. local time about 20 miles from the eastern Iraqi city of Halabjah. It left gaping holes in mosques, sheared walls off apartment buildings and cracked parts of Iraq’s Diyala River dam. Part of an apartment building fell in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah, Iran. Photo by Tasnim News Agency via Reuters “Immediately after I managed to get out (of the apartment), the building collapsed. I have no access to my belongings,” said Kokab Fard, a 49-year-old housewife in Sarpol-e-Zahab, Iran, reported the Associated Press. Tens of thousands of Iranians slept outside in the mountainous border area as they awaited aid. The adobe block and low-rise, non-ductile (brittle) concrete buildings in the region are vulnerable to earthquakes, and other recent temblors in the area have caused landslides, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Map shows location of earthquake on Iraq-Iran border with a yellow star. Click on the map for a larger version. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani planned to visit the damaged areas on Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi directed government agencies to respond to the disaster. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 33 aid trucks with tents, blankets and food to the Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah. The World Health Organization airlifted medical supplies for hospitals treating the injured in western Iran’s Kermanshah province. The U.S. State Department issued the following statement: “The United States expresses its sincere condolences to all of those affected by the earthquake in Iran and Iraq. We keep the families of those who were killed, and injured, in our thoughts as well as the communities that have suffered damage to homes and property.” People survey the damage in Darbandikhan, Iraq, on Nov. 13. Photo by Ako Rasheed/Reuters People remove rubble from a damaged mosque in Khanaqin, Iraq. Photo by a Reuters stringer We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now