More Injured in Zarand Quake

The number of injured in the earthquake that hit Zarand City in Kerman Province on Thursday afternoon increased to 24 people, according to the director general of the provincial Crisis Management Organization. “Among 20 of the injured received outpatient medical services and four remain under supervision at medical facilities,” said Mohsen Salehi, IRNA reported. The quake, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was followed by several strong aftershocks on Friday, and a number of buildings were said to have been damaged. Salehi said the people were mostly injured trying to exit buildings to reach open space. One of the most earthquake prone regions in Iran, Kerman sits astride several major faults. The worst in recent times hit Bam City in December 2003 killing 31,000 people (about a quarter of its population).