Throughout the year, countries all around the world have had natural disasters hit them hard.  Unfortunately, many of these places are not first world countries as the United States is, but rather third world countries who are already seeking help.

On Sunday, November 13, there was a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the city of Sarpol e-Zahab in Iran.  The epicenter was in Ezgeleh, Iran which is approximately 135 miles northeast of  Baghdad.   At least 452 people have been killed in total, but the number will keep rising due to harsh conditions that will meet those who lost homes with winter on its way.  In Kermanshah, a province of Iran, alone a minimum of 100 people passed away.

Within Iran, there were 7,100 people injured.  The interesting fact about earthquakes is that the quake itself will not kill many people at all.  Buildings that are poorly constructed and crumble during the disaster that fall is what people die from.  The saddening part is that so many people are lost when their lives could have possibly been saved.

Domnic Rodriguez, a senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, states, “Other countries should donate money to help rebuild their homes and donate warm clothes so they have a chance to survive winter.”

Iran’s top  leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, encourages all rescue workers to continue looking for those who may be buried within the rubble.

Seeing how many people strive to help others is quite amazing.  The government called for a blood drive in order to help those who are struggling.  In Tehran, there were hundreds among hundreds of people who waited hours to turn donate blood on such a last minute notice.

Domnic says, “I think that a lot of people are going to suffer from the harsh weather conditions along with those who have children may face difficulties to save them as well.”

As long as everyone is there for one another, the people who survived will find a way to survive.  The world can help each other through these events that have caused so much destruction, but there is a new year on its way for people to experience a better year full of life.