Imam Khamenei Visits Quake-hit Border Province: We Share the Grief of Kermanshah People
Local Editor
Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei visited Iran's western province of Kermanshah which was hit by a deadly earthquake more than a week ago.
Imam Khamenei arrived early Monday in Sarpol-e-Zahab which is the hardest hit town, where he met some of the affected families.
"I feel the same pain that each of you have in your hearts. I would have liked to be among you at a better time," Imam Khamenei said.
"I was also among you during the imposed war. You showed your mettle and endurance in the imposed war. Show it also today. The brave and heroic people stand and defeat the mishap," the Imam added.
The Imam was referring to the Iraqi war under the former dictator Saddam Hussein whose troops captured Sarpol-e-Zahab in 1980 before the city fought back and drove out the invaders.
As many as 436 people were killed after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the Kermanshah province on November 11.
Aftershocks continue to rattle the affected areas, with 647 tremors recorded until Sunday noon following the initial earthquake, as medics and rescue teams race to treat the injured and help retrieve bodies from under toppled buildings.
The earthquake has led to an outpouring of solidarity from Iranians across the country and millions more in the diaspora, prompting state officials and personalities to visit the affected areas.
The Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] are working hand in hand in the province. Army chief General Abdolrahim Mousavi and IRGC chief Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari are visiting the affected areas for a second time to oversee relief and rescue operations.
The IRGC has stationed portable field hospitals which include tents, operation rooms, outpatient and gynecology wards, pharmacies, radiology labs, and dental facilities. On Sunday, an IRGC official said portable bathrooms were also being transported to the affected areas.
Government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said on Sunday that as much as 2.8 trillion rials [$70 million] had been allocated to be given out to the affected families in the form of free loans.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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