TEHRAN — Two strong earthquakes struck northwestern Iran on Saturday, killing at least 153 people and leaving some 1,300 injured, Deputy Interior Minister Hassan Qadami told the Fars news agency.
Striking within 11 minutes of one another — at 4:49 p.m. and 5 p.m. — the two tremors registered magnitudes of 6.2 and 6, respectively. Worst hit were the towns of Ahar and Varzeqan, but the earthquakes also rattled nearby villages.
According to reports, some 60 villages have been badly damaged by the twin quakes. It is unclear how many people live in these villages.
Provincial Governor Khalil Saei warned that because of probable aftershocks, people in the quake-hit areas should sleep outdoors on Saturday night.
The Red Crescent said it would establish mobile hospitals in the affected areas to give emergency aid to the injured.
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