Red Crescent volunteers in Iran and northern Iraq are working around the clock in the aftermath of a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the border region Sunday evening.
In Iran, at least 430 people were killed and more than 7,000 injured by the quake. Iranian Red Crescent teams performed search-and-rescue and first aid in the immediate aftermath—deploying more than 100 teams to support disaster response efforts including sniffer dogs, debris removal, emergency shelter, first aid, and search-and-rescue. The Iran Red Crescent also dispatched ambulances, rescue vehicles and helicopters to the affected area.
Many residents fled buildings and had to spend the night out in low temperatures. Reports of widespread infrastructure damage including roads, buildings and one dam in the region is causing evacuations of villages in a flood zone.
As aftershocks continue, Red Crescent teams are distributing relief items including tents, ground sheets, blankets, kitchen sets, and food items such as canned food and rice.
According to the official reports, power is cut off in the cities of Qasre-Shirin, Gilane-Garb, Kermanshah, Sare-Pule-Zahab in Kermanshah and houses in some western Iranian villages have been severely damaged. The quake also shook the Iranian provinces of Kordestan, Ilam, Khuzestan, Markazi, West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Lorestan, Qazvin, Zanjan, Qom and Tehran.
In northern Iraq, the Red Crescent is reporting 10 people killed and more than 425 injured by the Sunday evening earthquake. The Iraqi Red Crescent deployed teams to evacuate the injured and provide first aid to people impacted by the disaster.
A hospital in Darbandikhan was damaged, so the Red Crescent provided first aid materials and set up a tent inside the hospital to receive and treat the injured temporarily.
As families start returning back to their homes in Kirkuk and surrounding areas, Iraqi Red Crescent health teams are offering services and volunteers are working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to distribute relief supplies such as bottled water, food, kitchen sets, hygiene items, thermoses, kettles, tarps, blankets, and towels. In addition, twenty-three trucks loaded with relief items have entered the Iraqi territory coming from Turkish Red Crescent in order to distribute it to the affected people.
Interviews and photos available to the media
In Iran
Ms. Mansoureh Bagheri
Iran Red Crescent Society Director for international Operations
tel: +989 12 13 96432, intdep@rcs.ir
In Iraq
Mr. Mohamad Khosaii, Iraq Red Crescent Spokesperson
Tel: +964 77 06 740 084
Dr. Yassin, President of Iraq Red Crescent
Tel: +964 790 11 11 185
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.
