500 dead in Iranian earthquake

A strong earthquake has rocked northwestern Iran killing at least 500 people and injuring about 1,600.

Most of the deaths occurred in the town of Bou'in-Zahra in Qazvin province, the epicentre of the 6.0 magnitude quake, 140 miles west of Tehran, Majid Shalviri, the head of the provincial Red Crescent Society, was quoted as saying by the official news agency.

The 7.30 am (0300 GMT) quake was also felt in the capital Tehran. The quake hit the northern, central and western provinces of Gilan, Tehran, Kurdestan, Qazvin, Zanjan and Hamedan and was succeded by several aftershocks, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

"In the village of Kisse-Jin only, 80 people have been killed," Shalviri, of the Red Crescent Society, said.

Mohammad Hossein Parvinian, deputy governor of Qazvin province, said that 10 villages were damaged "between 50-90 percent and rescue teams have been sent to the region." The villages are near the towns of Bou'in-Zahra and Avaj in Qazvin province, he said. Bou'in-Zahra is 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Qazvin, the provincial capital.

In 1963, a deadly earthquake hit the same area, killing 12,225 people and demolishing 124 villages in one of Iran's most devastating natural disasters.

Iran lies on a major seismic line and is prone to quakes. Moderate tremors are reported in various parts of Iran almost daily.

President Mohammad Khatami has issued a message of condolences to the Iranian nation. Khatami instructed the Interior Ministry to cooperate with other agencies to act quickly in offering assistance to the victims of the quake.