Iran hit by quake aftershocks

Survivors grieve over the grave of a victim of the earthquake, which killed almost 250

ABEGARM, Iran -- Iran continues to be rocked by powerful aftershocks days after a magnitude-six earthquake flattened up to 100 villages and killed 245 people.

Remote regions in the northwest of the country suffered a second earthquake on Tuesday.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency said a magnitude-four tremor hit just after midnight.

It said there were no new reports of deaths or injuries. Residents reported at least three aftershocks.

Major earthquakes are not uncommon as Iran lies on a major seismic line. Moderate tremors are reported in parts of the country almost daily.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Lisa Mirando on the powerful earthquake that hit northwestern Iran (June 22) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION Images from the Iran earthquake  • Flash animation: Major earthquakes of 20th century  • Timeline: Major earthquakes in last 20 years     MAGNITUDE GUIDE Below is an interactive guide to earthquake magnitude and severity: Magnitude: Less than 3.5 3.5 - 5.4 Under 6.0 6.1 - 6.9 7.0 - 7.9 8 or greater

Since 1990, more than 41,000 people have been killed in three major quakes. In the Qazvin area, a 1963 quake killed 12,225 people.

But in Abegarm, a town of several thousand people about 125 miles from the Iranian capital of Tehran, residents were panicked by the new earthquake.

Undamaged by Saturday's quake, Abegarm is surrounded by poor, remote villages where houses built of brick and mud were flattened, burying victims.

In towns and villages in and around Qazvin, the province hardest hit Saturday, terrified residents slept outside, fearing their homes would collapse.

"No-one wants to take a chance," said Hajj Ebrahim Nazari.

Saturday's quake struck at about 7:30 a.m. in the provinces of Gilan, Kurdestan, Qazvin -- where the epicentre was recorded -- Zanjan and Hamedan.

Among the hardest hit of the 100 villages destroyed by the quake was Changooreh where at least 140 bodies had been recovered from the debris by early Monday.

Only two of the village's 100 houses remained intact.

In nearby Abdareh about 20 bodies have been retrieved from the debris. About 40 homes were demolished and the village mosque was toppled.

The Iranian government has declared three days of mourning and established a bank account for donations from the public.

The United Nations has offered help. Pope John Paul II sent his prayers to the victims and called for a "generous" international response.

Germany offered $485,000 in relief money and U.S. President George W. Bush has offered condolences to "the families of the many victims in the cities and villages affected by this tragic event."