The death toll from Saturday's twin earthquakes in Iran has risen to nearly 300, with more than 4-thousand-6-hundred injured, according to Iran's Fars news agency. Relief operations are underway as medical staff desperately try to save lives.

Iran's Deputy Interior Minister Hassan Qaddami says at least six villages have been completely flattened, with around 110 villages sustaining damage. Iran's Health Minister says extra medical assistance has been dispatched to hospitals in the three northwestern quake-hit provinces.

Rescue workers say hundreds of emergency vehicles and aid supplies, including food and blankets have been sent to the affected areas. Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar is in the area to meet with local officials and coordinate the emergency response.

Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said, "The emergency workers have responded very quickly to the sudden disaster. Everyone is working really hard. As the President's representative in this time of crisis, I thank them personally."

Authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescuers are still trying to reach people trapped under rubble and have not been able to reach some of the more remote villages. Saturday's first quake measured 6.2 on the Richter Scale and struck 60 kilometres northeast of the city of Tabriz.

The second quake measuring a magnitude of 6, struck 11 minutes later. Its epicentre was 48 kilometres northeast of Tabriz. More than 55 aftershocks were reported over the following hours.

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