218 killed as earthquake jolts Iraq and Iran

At least 218 people were killed in Iran and Iraq when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the region on Sunday, state media in the two countries said, as rescuers searched for dozens trapped under rubble in the mountainous area.

State television said more than 214 people were killed in Iran and at least 2,500 were injured. Local officials told state TV that the death toll would rise as search and rescue teams reached remote areas of Iran.

The earthquake was felt in several western provinces of Iran but the hardest hit province was Kermanshah, which announced three days of mourning. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border.

State television said the quake had caused heavy damages in some villages where houses were made of earthen bricks. Rescuers were labouring to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.

The quake also triggered landslides that hindered rescue efforts, officials told state TV.