Iranian quake death toll rises to 45

Ghazerkhan villagers stand among the debris of their house following an earthquake in Ghazerkhan village, 280km northwest from the Iranian capital Tehran yesterday. At least 45 people were killed when a strong quake struck sparking off panic across Iran. PHOTO: AFP

The Iranian Red Crescent, quoted by the official news agency ISNA, put the death toll at 45, with the casualties occurring in the provinces of Qazvin and Mazandaran.

However, state radio put the toll at 25 dead and 200 injured.

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The second severe quake to hit Iran in less than six months struck at about 5:00 pm (1330 GMT). Reports on its magnitude varied, but most said it measured at least 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Its epicenter was located in the Mazandaran province town of Baladeh, 70km north of Tehran

Tehran University's Geophysics institute measured a further 65 aftershocks ranging from 1.6 to 5.5 on the Richter Scale.