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Number of injured in earthquake in Iran surpasses 800

Three people died

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The number of injured in an earthquake in Iran’s northwest has increased to 816 people, while three people died, the governor of West Azerbaijan province Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian reported on Sunday.

"As a result of the earthquake three people died and 816 were injured," he was quoted as saying by AFP agency.

According to preliminary estimates, the earthquake damaged two cities and more than 70 villages, with up to 50% of buildings there ruined.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit on Saturday in the northwestern part of Iran with an epicenter 23 kilometers to southeast of the city of Khoy, home to 175,000 people.

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