UN slashes estimate of Iranian quake toll
August 4, 1981
United Nations, N.Y.
UN relief officials cut from 8,000 to 1,500 the estimated death toll in last week's earthquake in southeastern Iran.A spokesman for the officials said his previous statement that 60,000 people were injured in the earthquake was also wildly exaggerated. The total population of the affected villa ges was no more than 20,000, he said.