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August 13, 2012
Iran villages in rubble as quake death toll rises

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran Monday raised its earthquake death toll to 306, a day after rescuers called off the search for survivors from the rubble of their homes in the country's northwest, state media reported.

Health Minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi told a session of parliament that the number jumped by about 50 after victims expired in the hospital. More than 3,000 people were injured in the twin earthquakes that struck two days ago, she added in comments broadcast on state radio.

The death toll included some 219 women and children, Dastjerdi said, adding that around 2,000 injured people had been released from hospitals soon after the quake since they had only minor injuries.

Scores of aftershocks have coursed through the region since the 6.4 and 6.3 magnitude quakes hit the area, home to some 300,000 people.

The quakes hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province. At least 12 villages were totally leveled, and 425 others sustained damage ranging from 50 to 80 percent, state TV and news agencies reported.

(23 images)




iran_earthquake_081312_01.jpg
An Iranian woman grieves after her loved ones were killed during Saturday's earthquake at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Arash Khamoushi
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A female victim of Saturday's earthquake makes her way on the ruins of buildings in a village near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Mahsa Jamali
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An Iranian woman grieves after her loved ones were killed during Saturday's earthquake at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Arash Khamoushi
iran_earthquake_081312_04.jpg
An Iranian woman grieves after her loved ones were killed during Saturday's earthquake at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Arash Khamoushi
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Iranian women cry on Sunday, August 12, 2012, in Varzaqan, Iran after two earthquakes struck northwest Iran. ZUMA24.com / Ahmad Halabisaz
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Rescuers search for survivors on Sunday, August 12, 2012, in Varzaqan, Iran after an earthquake in northwest Iran. ZUMA24.com / Ahmad Halabisaz
iran_earthquake_081312_07.jpg
In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 photo, Iranians search the ruins of buildings after Saturday's earthquake in a village near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran. AP / Ali Hamed Haghdoust
iran_earthquake_081312_08.jpg
Iranians search the ruins of buildings at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, after Saturday's earthquake. AP / Arash Khamoushi
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Iranians carry the body of a victim of Saturday's earthquake to bury at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Arash Khamoushi
iran_earthquake_081312_10.jpg
A victim of Saturday's earthquake sits on the ruins of buildings at the village of Bajebaj near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Ruhollah Vahdati
iran_earthquake_081312_11.jpg
In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 photo, two Iranian boys retrieve their belongings from ruins of their house after Saturday's earthquake in a village near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran. AP / Ali Hamed Haghdoust
iran_earthquake_081312_12.jpg
Damaged buildings are seen in a village near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. AP / Farshid Tighehsaz
iran_earthquake_081312_13.jpg
Remains of a building is seen after an earthquake in a village near the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. An Earthquake hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province on Saturday, Aug, 11, 2012. AP / Armin Karami
iran_earthquake_081312_14.jpg
Ruins of a houses are seen after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Hamed Nazari
iran_earthquake_081312_15.jpg
Residents sit at the side of a street after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Kazem Yousefi
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A woman lies injured on a stretcher in a street after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Hamed Nazari
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Medics tend a woman who was injured in an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Kazem Yousefi
iran_earthquake_081312_18.jpg
A man stretchers a woman who was injured in earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Kazem Yousefi
iran_earthquake_081312_19.jpg
A woman talks as she tends her injured loved one after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Ali Hamed Haghdoust
iran_earthquake_081312_20.jpg
Medics treat an injured man after an earthquake in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Ali Hamed Haghdoust
iran_earthquake_081312_21.jpg
Victims lie injured at the courtyard of a hospital after an earthquake in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Kamel Rouhi
iran_earthquake_081312_22.jpg
Victims of an earthquake sit over the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in the city of Varzaqan in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Hamed Nazari
iran_earthquake_081312_23.jpg
Bodies of victims of an earthquake lie in the city of Ahar in northwestern Iran, on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. AP / Kazem Yousefi

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