Magnitude 6.6 and 6.3 earthquakes in Iran kill 87 people, cause much damage, many aftershocks being felt!

Iran earthquakes kill 87 people in the northwest | Reuters

An Iranian woman stands next to her injured child lying on a bed outside a hospital in the town of Ahar, some 60 kms east of Tabriz, after a strong earthquake hit northwestern Iran on August 11, 2012 (AFP Photo / Kamel Rouhi)

(Reuters) - Two strong earthquakes struck northwest Iran on Saturday, killing 87 people, injuring hundreds and scaring thousands into fleeing their homes as aftershocks continued to hit the area, Iranian state media said.

Iran is straddled by several major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6. magnitude quake in 2003 which turned the southeastern historic city of Bam into dust and killed more than 25,000 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured Saturday's first quake at 6.4 magnitude and said it struck 60 km (37 miles) northeast of the city of Tabriz at a depth of 9.9 km (6.2 miles). A second quake measuring 6.3 struck 49 km (30 miles) northeast of Tabriz 11 minutes later at a similar depth.

There have been at least 18 aftershocks since then, Iranian media said.

The second quake struck near the town of Varzaghan. "The quake was so intense that people poured into the streets through fear," Fars news agency said of the town.

Read More: Iran earthquakes kill 87 people in the northwest | Reuters