Iran earthquake death toll rises to 483

Official total increases as victims die from their injuries and authorities identify some buried in haste

By AFP 26 November 2017, 5:46 pm

Edit

A picture taken on November 15, 2017 shows a view through the buildings left damaged by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck days before in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab in Iran's western Kermanshah province near the border with Iraq, leaving hundreds killed and thousands homeless. (AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE)

TEHRAN, Iran — The number of dead in a major earthquake that hit Iran’s western province of Kermanshah this month has risen to 483, official news agency IRNA said.

The rise from a previous toll of 436 reported last week came after some people died from their injuries and authorities identified several dead who were buried in haste, IRNA and other Iranian media outlets said.

The 7.3-magnitude quake struck the mountainous region bordering Iraq late on November 12, injuring more than 12,000 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Eight people were killed in neighboring Iraq.

Iran sees frequent seismic activity. In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake in northern Iran killed 40,000 people, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless.