At least 400 people have been killed and thousands made homeless in what has been described as Iran’s deadliest earthquake in more than 10 years.
Aside from those killed, more than 7,000 people were injured in the 7.3 magnitude earthquake which struck on Sunday night in the mountainous border region with Iraq. The hardest hit province waa Kermanshah with the worst damage reported in the Kurdish town of Sarpol-e-Zahab.
Iran has declared three days of mourning. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent a message of condolence to those affected and urged rescue workers to search for survivors while President Hassan Rouhani is reportedly planning to visit the worst affected region. Iranian authorities have since reportedly said the rescue part of the response had now been completed.
In neighbouring Iraq, nine people have been confirmed killed and some 500 injured in the quake.
