Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 24, 2020—A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the towns and villages of northwest Iran near the cities of Khoy and Salmas in the country’s West Azerbaijan Province in the morning hours of Sunday, February 23. The areas of Qatour near the town of Zarabad were the worst hit and locals experienced dozens of aftershocks through the course of Sunday following the initial quake at 9:23 am local time.
The cities of Tabriz, Osku, Sahand, Urmia and others across Iran’s East and West Azerbaijan provinces were shaken by this six-kilometer deep earthquake. More than 3,500 homes in the earthquake hit areas have suffered damages.
Officials in West Azerbaijan Province are reporting 43 villages have suffered between 10 to 100 percent damage. The village of Mokhein near the city of Khoy has experienced vast damages and locals are in dire need of support.
Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called on fellow compatriots to rush to the support of those in need, knowing that Iranian regime officials and authorities will not provide any aid.
“Mullahs’ regime is covering up damages in the 5.7-richter earthquake in W. Azerbaijan. Over 100 villages were damaged. I request help for those affected, especially in #Khoy & #Salmas & urge vigilance by fellow compatriots in the Province about subsequent aftershocks,” Madam Rajavi tweeted.
Mullahs’ regime is covering up damages in the 5.7-Richter earthquake in W. Azerbaijan. Over 100 villages were damaged. I request help for those affected, especially in #Khoy & #Salmas & urge vigilance by fellow compatriots in the Province about subsequent aftershocks. #Iran
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 23, 2020
To add to the locals’ already escalating fears and troubles, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook the area yet again at 7:30 pm local time. The region had experienced at least 60 aftershocks in total ranging from 2.5 to 5.9-magnitude in the evening on Sunday. Locals in the cities of Khoy and Salmas were seen in the streets in fear of further such tremors and earthquakes.
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Iran is prone to earthquakes and the mullahs’ regime has a history of not providing necessary aid to the locals.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake at 2:17 am local time on November 8, shook the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Gilan, Zanjan and West Azerbaijan in Iran’s north and northwest areas. Many people fled their homes in horror and initial reports indicate at least six dead and over 350 injured.
The quake epicenter as reported to be in the town of Tark, East Azerbaijan Province, located around 400 kilometers northwest the Iran’s capital, Tehran.
November 8, 2019
2:17 am local timeMagnitude 5.9 earthquake shakes northwest #Iran, especially East Azerbaijan Province, leaving at least six dead and around 350 injured. pic.twitter.com/Nd7zIutWBc
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 8, 2019
In the city of Sarab of East Azerbaijan Province, people terrified of more quakes and aftershocks slept in the streets or their vehicles. Winter is approaching fast in these areas of Iran and the nights are very cold. The city of Turkman Chay in East Azerbaijan Province experienced 42 aftershocks until around 7 am local time. More than 40 aftershocks were also reported in the rural areas of Alborz Mountains.
At 9:30 pm local time on Thursday, November 7, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake was also reported in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), expressed her condolences to the victims of the earthquake and called on Iranians to help the residents of the disaster-struck regions.
My deep condolences to the survivors of the earthquake in Azerbaijan, Zanjan, Gilan and Ardabil, and wishing for quick recovery of those injured. I urge the nation to rush to the aid of the victims of the earthquake. #Iran pic.twitter.com/pM7HxjrLUS
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 8, 2019
Farhad Tajari, a member of the Iranian regime’s parliament, acknowledged last year that the people of Gilan-e Gharb in Kermanshah Province continued to be deprived of proper shelter. “They will have to sleep in tents and cars in very harsh conditions,” the MP said. Tajari also warned that with earthquakes regularly happening in the area and the government not taking proper measures, there was a real threat that the people will start deserting the region and migrating to other locations where they feel safer. Locals in northwest Iran may also be facing such a destiny these days.
Considering the track record of Hassan Rouhani’s government, there’s no serious prospect of help coming to the victims of the recent earthquake.
On the first anniversary of the Kermanshah earthquake, the Ruydad 24 website wrote, “This was an earthquake that was so powerful that its tremors reached as far as Iraq and Turkey and it destroyed many homes in Kermanshah. There is a large number of people who are still living in trailers and tents. The living conditions of home renters in the region is still uncertain. The home owners don’t know what to do with the current situation. Pollution in the temporary residential area of the earthquake victims (which has effectively become their permanent homes) has become a source of diseases in the region. There’s news of suicides in the region and now, on the anniversary of the earthquake, we’re at the doorsteps of the cold season, and all the calamities of last year will repeat themselves.”
While the Iranian regime may claim to “rush” aid to the recent earthquake hit areas, history shows locals in these regions will be suffering for months and even years.
