PGCC Secretary General Condoles Iran FM On Quake in E.Azerbaijan

Tehran, Sept 5, IRNA - - Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdol Latif Bin Rashed al-Zeyani in a meesage on Tuesday to Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed his condolences on the tragic earthquake in East Azerbaijan province. He also expressed sympathy with the injured and the families of the victims. Al-Zeyani asked for divine forgiveness for the victims, patience for their families and survivors and good health and rapid recovery for those injured in the earthquake. He finally wished prosperity and success for the Iranian government and nation. Two strong earthquakes measuring 6.2 and 6 on the Richters scale on August 11 leveled some villages and damaged homes in northwestern Iran, killing at least 300 people and injuring over 2,000 others. The 6.2 magnitude quake hit the town of Ahar but the quake measuring 6 on the Richter scale jolted Varzaqan in East Azerbaijan province. The two strong quakes were followed by 55 aftershocks, the strongest of which was measured 4.8 on the Richter scale. Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one earthquake every day on average, although the vast majority are so small that they go unnoticed./end