A powerful earthquake struck western part of Iran injuring at least 200 people and killing two including a pregnant woman, as per initial report by Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.
According to US Geological Survey the earthquake was shallow. It struck 26 kilometres southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province. It was recorded as 5.9-magnitude.
Saeb Sharidari, head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, said one of the deaths was a 70-year-old man and he died out of heart attack.
He added 241 people was injured in the quake and among them six are in critical condition.
Provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said even though there were potential drinking water problems in the villages due to damaged infrastructure, but distributing food and tents were not considered as necessary.
He added there were about 21 aftershocks in the region.
Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand said crisis centre was set up and relief organizations, including hospitals, were placed on alert, and electricity in several villages were cut off temporarily.
Local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, said situation was under control and the provinces didn’t request for any help.
The earthquake was also felt in Iraq too as western part of Iran borders the country. Images circulated on social media showed people rushing to hospitals.
The Kermanshah province was hit by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake last November in which 620 people were killed. Eight others were killed in Iraq.
