Over 300 dead in Iraq-Iran earthquake

The death toll of a major earthquake that hit the Iran-Iraq border overnight rose to 328 dead on the Iranian side of the border on Monday, the coroner’s office said.

At least another 2,530 were injured in the 7.3-magnitude quake that hit late Sunday, state television reported the office as saying. A previous toll stood at 207 dead and 1,700 wounded.

Officials expected the casualty toll to rise when search and rescue teams reached remote areas of Iran.

The Baghdad government did not immediately give word on casualties in that country, though Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi issued a directive for the country’s civil defense teams and “related institutions” to respond to the natural disaster.