5.6 magnitude quake hits Iran

Mongolia News.Net
Saturday 31st July, 2010

A significant 5.6 magnitude earthquake rocked parts of Iran Friday, injuring more than 200 people and bringing some cities, such as Torbat-e Heydarieh, to a standstill as residents evacuated buildings during the quake, which lasted around ten seconds.

Torbat-e Heydarieh was where the epicenter of the quake was located, 715 kilometers (445 miles) from Tehran and around 26 kilometers (16 miles) underground.

According to Iran’s state-run Republic News Agency, the vast majority of the damage and casualties occurred in Torbat and surrounding areas, with around 50% of all the homes and buildings in the area taking damage.

“There were no immediate reports of any fatalities in the earthquake,” Mojtaba Sadeqian, the governor of Torbat-e Heydarieh, told state-run Press TV. “However, it is widely believed that a large number of people are trapped under the rubble, and the casualties are expected to be high.”

A dozen people are in critical condition in the city’s main hospital and local authorities are coordinating with the Red Cross to hand out blankets, tents and food supplies for the several thousand displaced by the tremor.

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