The magnitutde-7.3 quake that rattled Iran's western province of Kermanshah and parts of neighboring Iraq on Sunday night caused extensive damage and loss of life.
“I wish I could do something. I wish I could make my own contribution to my compatriots. I, Sabah Shariati, am auctioning my Rio 2016 Olympics medal to serve my country and help my compatriots,” Shariati wrote in a message.
Shariati is not the only leading Iranian athlete ready to help out, as members of the Iranian men’s national freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams have all rushed to aid the quake-hit region.
Ali Daei, a former captain of Iran's national football team, has likewise taken to social media to raise funds for those affected by Sunday night’s tremor.
According to the latest figures, the quake killed at least 450 people and injured more than 9,000 in Iran and neighboring Iraq. An estimated 15,000 houses were destroyed, leaving some 70,000 people homeless.
READ MORE: 'We Saw Homes Collapse': Survivors Tell Of Terrifying Moment Earthquake Hit Iran
Most of the reported casualties are in Iran's western province of Kermanshah, which was near the epicenter of the earthquake.
