国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Powerful earthquake kills 445 Iranians, more casualties feared_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Powerful earthquake kills 445 Iranians, more casualties feared

Iranian emergency teams have been dispatched to the quake-hit region and helicopters are delivering basic needs. There are also strong aftershocks in the area.

Field hospitals have been set up in the quake-hit areas.

The earthquake and after-shakes magnitude varied from 4.5 to 6.1. The earthquake has also been felt in Turkey, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

In Iran's western Sanandaj and Qasr-e Shirin cities, people evacuated their houses following the strong earthquake.

Esmail Najar, the head of Iran's National Disaster Management Organization said more injured people might be buried under the rubble in Qasr-e Shirin and Sarpol-e Zahab counties.

The rescue teams from across Iran are still digging out those who are stuck under the rubbles in the villages and towns in Kermanshah province.

Witnesses in Sarpol-e Zahab said that they were appalled to see the city skyline on Monday morning, saying half of the buildings seem to have been destroyed, Tasnim news agency reported.

Three mourning days has been announced in Kermanshah province. Officials announced that schools in Kermanshah and Ilam provinces would be closed Monday because of the tremor.

In a telephone conversation with President Hassan Rouhani on Monday, Governor of Kermanshah province Hooshang Bazvand expressed concerns that the death toll would still rise, according to Tasnim news agency.