Iran quake toll tops 250 as 20 villages are leveled

TEHRAN, Iran - Residents of the zone in
northwestern Iran hit by powerful twin
earthquakes described moments of terror and
panic, with birds crowing loudly in warning
seconds before the ground shook. As the death
toll rose Sunday to more than 250 with entire
villages leveled, rescuers called off searches for
survivors and turned their attention to caring
for the 16,000 people left homeless.
At least 20 villages were destroyed in the
quakes Saturday that were followed by 36
aftershocks, state television reported. Ahmad
Reza Shajiei, a senior government official in
charge of rescue operations, said more than
5,000 tents had been set up to shelter the
thousands of displaced who spent the night
outdoors.
"The moment the earthquake hit, it was like a
snake biting from underground. It was the worst
experience of my life," said resident Morteza
Javid, 47, from Ahar.
Javid said he drove more than a dozen injured
people to hospitals during the night.
State television said at least 250 died. The
semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted a local
official who put the toll at 277. State TV said
44,000 food packages and thousands of
blankets have been distributed in the stricken
area.
Culled from Ali Akbar Dareini report,
Associated Press.