Iran - Iraq Earthquake..Deadly tremor hits border region

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has rattled thenorthern border region between Iran and Iraq, killing at least 135 people and injuring hundreds more.

At least 129 people died in western Iran's Kermanshah province, officials told state media.

Six more were reported dead in Iraq. The death toll is likely to rise.

The earthquake sparked panic, with fears of aftershocks sending residents out into the streets.

Most of the victims were in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, about 15km (10 miles) from the border, Iran's emergency services chief, Pir Hossein Koolivand was quoted as sayingon Iranian state television channel IRINN.

The town's main hospital was severely damaged, leaving it struggling to treat hundreds of wounded.

On the Iraqi side, the most extensive damage was in the town of Darbandikhan, 75km (47 miles) east of the city of Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan Region.

The quake hit 19 miles (30km) southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.