Over 600 injured in Iran's 6.4 earthquake

By Muhammed Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – The number of the injured in Sunday's 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit western Iran near the border with Iraq, has climbed to 646, according to Iran's state television.

Citing Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, the state television said 290 out of 646 injured took place in Sarpol-e Zahab city, while the other 170 people injured in Gilan-e Gharb, 109 in Qasr-e Shirin, 54 in western Islamabad and 23 in other regions.

The epicenter of the quake was western Kermanshah province with a depth of seven kilometers (4.3 miles) and struck at around 8 p.m., according to the country's Seismological Center affiliated to the Tehran University.

Citing Kermanshah Governor Houshang Bazvand, the Tasnim News Agency said no fatalities have been reported yet while the search and rescue operations remain ongoing.

According to the country's state emergency department, most of the injuries happened when people get panicked and attempted to escape from buildings.

At least 148 aftershocks were also reported following the quake, according to the Seismological Center.

The earthquake was also felt in northern Iraq where one was killed and 45 others were injured, joint crisis coordination center of Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government said on Twitter.

Around 620 people were killed when a 7.3-magnitude temblor shook Kermanshah in western Iran in November 2017.