Human consequences
About a quarter of the inhabitants die within seconds.
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EarthquakeBam earthquake
26,271Deaths
75,000Displaced / homeless
Not quantifiedEstimated cost
- 26,271 deaths according to the official toll; some sources put it above 30,000.
At dawn a magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes the oasis city of Bam, whose mud-brick houses collapse on their sleeping occupants.
Consequences
Environmental consequences
The qanats, underground channels that irrigate the palm groves, are damaged.
Economic consequences
The citadel of Arg-e Bam, the largest mud-brick complex in the world and the engine of local tourism, is largely destroyed.
Political consequences
Iran accepts substantial international aid, including from the United States. The site is placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004.
Further reading
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