Iranian survivors sleep in cold after major quake

Many gathered around bonfires and huddled under blankets to keep themselves warm in the face of freezing temperatures. Some people were lucky enough to get one of the thousands of tents sent by aid agencies. Iran issued an urgent appeal for drugs and equipment to the quake-devastated southeast. The devastating earthquake in southeast Iran killed or injured up to 70,000 people in the city of Bam. Up to now, approximately 4,000 injured people have been evacuated to other cities in Iran, including Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad.
Field hospitals were set up to treat survivors. The first relief supplies, from Britain, Germany, Russia and Switzerland, were flown into southeastern Iran early Saturday. The transport plane was to fly from southern Italy carrying with 40 tonnes of tents, tarpaulins, blankets, generators and water purification tablets, donated by Italy and Norway.