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Putin offers condolences to Iranian president over devastating earthquake

Sunday night’s earthquake in Iran on the border with Iraq left more than 300 dead, according to the media

MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered condolences to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iraqi President Fuad Masum over heavy casualties and destruction caused by a strong earthquake in the west of the country.

"Please accept sincere sympathy and support for the relatives and friends of those who perished and wishes of early convalescence to all survivors of this calamity," Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website.

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Death toll from earthquake on Iran-Iraq border exceeds 350 — media

Putin expressed to Rouhani "deep condolences over the heavy loss of human life and destruction in the west of Iran."

Also, Putin expressed condolences to the president of Iraq.

"Dear Mr. President. Please, accept the most sincere condolences over the tragic effects of the earthquake in Sulaymaniyah Province. We share the grief of those who lost their relatives and dear ones as a result of this disaster and we hope for the early recovery of all those who survived," the message published on the Kremlin’s website runs.

Iran’s Press-TV television channel on Monday quoted the National Disaster Management Organization as saying Sunday night’s earthquake in Iran on the border with Iraq left 328 dead and 2,530 injured. Kermanshah and Ilam provinces in the West of Iran were the hardest-hit. The quake killed at least seven Iraqis in Darbandikhan, Garmian and Sulaymaniyah. More than three hundred were taken to hospital.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Center said the center of the 7.2-magnitude quake was at a depth of ten kilometers 32 kilometers north of the Iranian city of Sarpol-e Zahab and 100 kilometers southeast of Iran’s Sulaymaniyah.

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