A 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed at least 87 people and injured over 600 others in northwestern Iran on Saturday, state TV reported.
Iran’s main news channel said the quake hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province at 4:53 p.m. local time (GMT 12:23), also damaging hundreds of homes.
The TV quoted Khalil Saei, local Crisis Committee chief, as saying that 30 people were killed in Ahar, 40 in Varzaqan and 17 others in Haris.
Disaster: A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran on Saturday; a man helps a woman who was injured in the city of Varzaqan
Victims: The earthquake claimed the lives of at least 87 people and injured more than 600; doctors tend to an injured woman in Varzaqan
The broadcast said at least 60 villages sustained damage ranging from 50 to 80 percent, while 4 other villages had been totally leveled to the ground.
The TV said at least 9 aftershocks jolted the same area and were felt in a wide region near the Caspian Sea, causing panic among the population.
Saei, local Crisis Committee chief, urged people in the quake region to stay outdoors and spend the night at parks and open spaces in anticipation of more aftershocks.
Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one earthquake every day on average, although the vast majority are so small they go unnoticed.
Devastation: Houses are left in ruins after an earthquake struck shortly before five local time
Ruins: A house in the city of Varzaqan is pictured after being hit by the quake; at least 60 villages sustained damage ranging from 50 to 80 percent, while 4 other villages had been totally leveled to the ground
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