The Hindu : International : Iran rejects U.S., U.N. aid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 24, 2005

International

International

Iran rejects U.S., U.N. aid

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB. 23. Amid driving rain and snow, rescue and relief teams are heading towards remote mountainous areas affected by Tuesday's massive earthquake, which hit parts of southeast Iran.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), citing local officials, said the death toll now stood at 459.

The quake injured another 900 people. IRNA quoted the Interior Minister, Abdolvahed Mousavi-Lari, as saying that the death toll would probably rise to 500.

At least 27 more bodies have been found in Houtkan, bringing the total number of deaths in the village alone to 150, AFP news agency reported.

Two women rescued

Rescue workers, however, managed to pull alive two women who were trapped under the masonry in the village, more than 24 hours after the temblor struck. One of them, who emerged nearly uninjured, said she had stood under the frame of a door soon after feeling the tremors. At least 11 Iranian rescue teams have moved to the quake zone. Notwithstanding the devastation, Iran has rejected offers of American and U.N. aid for the quake victims. Iranian Red Crescent workers have been moving people to nearby towns and cities in Kerman province. They also worked with mountain rescue teams and sniffer dogs in order to detect signs of life under the rubble.

Tuesday's earthquake had a magnitude of 6.4 magnitude and its epicentre was close to the town of Zarand, 740 km from Teheran.

The area is 200 km away from the ancient city of Bam which was partially destroyed by a quake in 2003, causing more than 30,000 casualties.

Reuters news agency reported that few dozen angry villagers besieged a convoy of vehicles, one of which carried the Interior Minister, complaining that relief teams were yet to come to their aid.

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