Government pledges €1m to earthquake victims

The Government has pledged up to €1m to help the victims of today’s earthquake in Iran, which killed at least four thousand people and injured thirty thousand in the city of Bam.

Many of the survivors are still trapped under the rubble.

Minister of State Tom Kitt says the next 48 hours will be a critical period and that it is essential to act as quickly as possible to prevent further loss of life.

The funding from Development Co-operation Ireland will be channelled mainly through the Red Crescent and other humanitarian groups, including the UN.