Iranian officials say an earthquake that hit the west of the country has injured at least 250 people.
Ahmad Karami, a chief emergency official for the quake-struck area in the province of Ilam, said many buildings also were badly damaged or destroyed.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, with an epicenter near the border with Iraq at 36 kilometers southeast of the city of Abdanan, struck at 0430 (Prague time) on August 18.
The temblor could be felt in neighboring provinces.
Earthquakes are frequent in Iran, which is located on seismic faults.
In April last year, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Iran and neighboring Pakistan, killing 40 people.
In December 2003, about 26,000 people were killed by a quake that flattened the southeastern city of Bam.
