Iranian media gave extensive coverage to the earthquake that struck south-eastern mountain villages on Tuesday, killing more than 450 people.
Coming just 14 months after a much greater disaster at Bam, the quake in Kerman province prompts some newspapers to criticise the authorities' response.
Websites too are questioning the readiness of the country to cope with disasters, while television reports paint a different picture of the relief efforts.
State-run Iranian TV was quick to show scenes from the devastated villages, with footage of casualties being loaded onto military helicopters.
The TV said units from the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij Resistance Force, an Islamic militia, were taking part in relief efforts, and quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Khatami urging the emergency services to speed up their rescue efforts.
During the bulletin, national TV switched live to local Kerman Television, where the presenter praised the quick response of the emergency services. The relief operation had started in the early morning, she said, and there was no lack of ambulances.
The presenter conveyed the official line that there was no need for outside assistance. Although many people were homeless, she said, the regional emergency services had everything under control.
Despite this insistence that international help was not needed, Iran Daily reported that Germany has offered to fly in a disaster-relief team to help rescue people buried under the rubble.
The English-language Tehran Times also noted that Turkey and Pakistan have offered assistance.
Angry editorials
Editorials in pro-reformist papers on Wednesday adopt a much sharper tone.
Aftab-e-Yazd accuses Iranian officials of failing to learn the lessons of the Bam earthquake, in which 31,000 people died.
"In many countries today even strong earthquakes don't claim the lives of more than ten people... Unfortunately yesterday's earthquake showed a repeat of the lack of organisation that occurs when it comes to aiding the quake-stricken people."
"If we cannot stop earthquakes happening, why can't we learn from dozens of quakes in the past about how to cooperate?" Aftab-e-Yazd asks.
Another pro-reform newspaper, Shargh, says the earthquake proves Iran's vulnerability but also exposes how the authorities have been unable since Bam to overcome "weaknesses" in emergency situations.
"Yesterday's earthquake was another wake-up call for officials not to forget all the plans and projects that were ratified after the Bam quake."
An Iranian commentator told the BBC that press criticism of the government following natural disasters is becoming increasingly vociferous, from across the political spectrum.
Internet voices
Contributors to Iranian websites have expressed dismay at the unfolding events in Kerman.
One comment posted on the ultra-conservative www.baztab.com urges better planning to prevent quake damage, comparing Iran with better-equipped Japan.
A posting on www.mellimazhabi.org, the site of Iran's National-Religious Forces, accuses the state of being incapable of providing minimal relief, "while people are pulling out bodies from under the rubble with their bare hands".
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.
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