Death toll rises, tops 250 in Iran quakes

Death toll rises, tops 250 in Iran quakes

tehran, iran

Residents of the zone in northwestern Iran hit by powerful twin earthquakes described moments of terror and panic with birds crowing loudly in warning seconds before the ground shook. As the death toll rose Sunday to more than 250 with entire villages leveled, rescuers called off searches for survivors and turned their attention to caring for the 16,000 people left homeless.

At least 20 villages were totally destroyed in the quakes Saturday that were followed by 36 aftershocks, state television reported.

Blaze hits London

london

Firefighters battled a massive blaze at an east London recycling center Sunday as the city prepared for the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Officials said the blaze was the biggest they’d seen in the city for years, but that the games would in no way be affected.

The fire — about 7 miles east of the Olympic Park — was brought under control by late Sunday.

“We’ve not seen a fire of this size in London for several years,” London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said.

US Navy ship, oil tanker collide

dubai, united arab emirates

A U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer was left with a gaping hole on one side after it collided with an oil tanker early Sunday just outside the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The collision left a breach about 10 feet by 10 feet in the starboard side of USS Porter. No one was injured on either vessel, the U.S. Navy said.

Associated Press