Hundreds feared dead in Iran earthquake

7.8 force tremor strikes country near its border with Pakistan Tue, Apr 16, 2013

Relatives of victims of last week’s earthquake in Iran
 mourn during a funeral. A second major earthquake has
 hit the country today and hundreds are feared dead. Photograph: Reuters

An Iranian government official said today he expected hundreds of deaths from a major earthquake that struck Iran near the border with Pakistan.

"It was the biggest earthquake in Iran in 40 years and we are expecting hundreds of dead," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The US Geological Survey said the lightly-populated region was hit by a 7.8 force tremor. The quake was felt as far away as New Delhi and Gulf cities of Dubai and Bahrain. It was at a depth of nine miles.

Across the Gulf, high-rise buildings swayed and officials ordered evacuations. Dubai has the world’s tallest tower, the 2,717 -foot Burj Khalifa.

Last week, a deadly 6.1 magnitude quake struck about 60 miles south-east of Bushehr, the site of Iran’s reactor.

irishtimes.
(source)