2012 Iran EarthQuake Kills 227

	2012 Iran EarthQuake Kills 227 Overcrowded hospitals in northwest Iran are struggling to cope with thousands of earthquake victims, as rescuers race to reach remote villages after two powerful tremors killed hundreds of people. Thousands of people huddled in makeshift camps or slept in the streets after Saturday's quakes in fear of more aftershocks, 40 of which had already struck. A lack of tents and other supplies has left them exposed to the night chill. The number of people killed from the twin quakes remains unclear, with estimates ranging between 227 and 250 people. The casualty figures are expected to rise, officials said, as some of the injured were in a critical condition. AFP reporters quoted interior minister Moustafa Mohammad-Najjar as saying: "Search and rescue operations have ended and we are now working to ensure survivors' needs in terms of shelter and food." But Reuters news agency said hundreds were stuck under rubble. Rescuers had been digging through piles of debris over the weekend in an attempt to recover people who became trapped when homes and offices collapsed. Pictures posted on Iranian news websites showed the bodies of men, women and children lying on the floor of a mortuary in the town of Ahar, 50 miles from the city of Tabriz. Major cities in Iran's northwest affected by earthquakes The city of Tabriz is a major trading hub Mourners wailed over the bodies of the dead, many of whom were women and children. Residents said a lot of the villages' men had been working their <b>...</b>	From: DynamoMor Views: 0 0 ratings
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