A strong earthquake hit western Iran on Friday, killing at least 70 people and devastating villages, a provincial official said according to Reuters. More than 1,200 people were injured in an area around the cities of Doroud and Boroujerd in the province of Lorestan, said Ali Barani, head of the provincial emergency team for disasters. Some survivors were dug out of the rubble of buildings alive, rescue officials said. In the worst hit areas, brick buildings collapsed into piles of masonry and mud homes were reduced to mounds of dust. Barani said 330 village in the area were severely damaged but the death toll was unlikely to rise much further. "If there are any changes, it will be very few," he said to Reuters by phone from Lorestan. Strong tremors on Thursday night helped keep the toll down because they drove many to leave their homes and take to the streets well before the big quake hit on Friday morning. --More 23 33 Local Time 20 33 GMT
