While the rescue and relief teams are still working in the quake-hit areas after three cold nights, the latest figures show that 474 people have died and 9,388 others wounded in the quake as of Wednesday morning.
The Sunday night’s earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, whose epicenter was near Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah, was the deadliest of the year, eclipsing the one that hit Mexico City in September, and was felt as far away as Turkey and Pakistan.
Many residents of Sarpol Zahab, the city hit hardest by the quake, still have to spend the night outdoors due to shortage of tents.
Aerial images show large parts of the city have been razed to the ground.
In a visit to the quake-hit areas on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani said the earthquake has destroyed 11,000 rural houses and 4,500 urban dwellings, noting that a total of 30,000 houses should be constructed. He also assured those made homeless of state supports.
The whole administrative and military forces in Iran have joined hands to assist with the rescue and relief operation. The IRGC has moved the country’s biggest portable field hospital to Kermanshah. The Army and the IRGC aerial forces airlift dozens of victims to capital Tehran every day.