Earthquake of Bam, Iran (December 26th, 2003)

The city of Bam is an ancient city in the Kermān Province of Iran that predates the birth of Christ, being traced back all the way to the Achaemenid Period (6^th-4^th Century B.C.E.). Being located along the banks of the seasonal Posht-e Rud River as well as right along the border of Pakistan, the city maintains high prominence as a trade and agricultural center in the Middle East. With all of the productivity and prosperity flowing through Bam, a single day in the city’s history completely reversed the evolution of this society. On December 26^th, 2003, the deadliest earthquake in 21^st Century Iran shook the landscape. 

 

Image 1. This image shows the Citadel of Bam and surrounding buildings prior to the 2003 earthquake (Researchgate.net).

 

On this seemingly normal Friday morning, 5:30 a.m. brought sheer horror to Bam, thousands losing their lives as the 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck. Within just around 30 minutes, more than 26,000 were dead along with another 30,000 injured or in critical condition. The Iranian Plateau, a major piece to the Eurasian Plate, includes cities such as Parthia, Media, Persis, as well as Bam. It’s placement, however, spells geological devastation for humans residing nearby. The position of the Iranian Plateau fits snuggly between the convergence of both the Arabian and Indian Plates, forcing the North/South strike-slip action that caused the Earthquake of 2003. This earthquake, like many others like it worldwide, found a way to display the impacts of poor disaster planning and overall preparedness by the city of Bam. According to the National Earthquake Information Center (NCEI), an earthquake of this magnitude and power occurs weekly on a global scale, but rarely ever sees this rate of fatality or injury (Manuel Berberian, 2009). While earthquake prediction is still not narrowed to an exact science even today, technological and educational capabilities had broadened enough in the early 21^st Century for use on smaller scales. However, Bam is an example of a city whose minimal preparedness and mitigation resulted in affecting over 230,000 humans. The fault that caused the earthquake wasn’t even recognized until after the events that took place on December 26^th. Almost all of the individuals who died were inside a building at the time of impact, also leaving just under 90% of the buildings in Bam with 60%-100% structural damage. The other 10% still managed to suffer anywhere from 40%-60% structural damage. After the aftershocks had rang throughout the province, a total of approximately 12 million metric tons of debris had piled up in the streets. Many of these buildings had been built in the previous 30 years, lacking any seismic codes that were available to be put into place, as well as buildings of poorly constructed masonry. This event even left roads, railways, and bridges shifting, curved, or broken. The environmental impacts of this earthquake can primarily be attributed to mishaps with human infrastructure. For example, the earthquake also managed to bend, crack, or break underground water lines that transported water from building to building and underground well to underground well. Once these pipes burst, irrigation and drinking water shortages occurred, as well as subsequent soil pollution and water contamination. The economic recovery of the city, stated by the World Bank, predicted that the economic recovery would take anywhere from 3 to 5 years, costing an estimated 1.5 million U.S. dollars. 

 

Image 2. This image displays the remains of the Citadel of Bam, as well as other buildings nearby, on December 30^th, 2003 (Pbase.com). 

 

While this earthquake took substantial upfront rebuilding costs from the city of Bam, the lasting economic consequences were brutal. The direct economic loss was estimated by the World Bank to equal roughly 1.5 million U.S. dollars (as stated previously), as well as a total of $53 million (all values are in U.S. dollars) in agricultural losses, $30 million in tourism, $15.8 million in industry, and $91.3 million in private business. In addition to this, forty different nations (including the United Nations) sent relief in the form of 7 million U.S. dollars to Iran. Many other humanitarian groups within the Middle East also sent food, water, and other essential resources to the people of Bam and those affected. 

 

Image 3. This image shows a side-by-side of the before and after scenes of the city of Bam, Iran (Researchgate.net). 

 

Shockingly, within 24 hours of the earthquake’s strength, not a single search and rescue or rubble removing team was utilized by the Iranian government. These teams only saved a total of 22 individuals in their initial 48 hour search. The elements buildings were used to build with, the sheer weight of these materials, lack of government enforcement of seismic building codes, and the lack of knowledge and awareness are the main contributors to this disaster. Although earthquakes are not entirely common in this region, they can still happen. This earthquake just displays what can happen when the government downplays the severity of earthquake preparedness, and Iran just so happened to be under the conditions for a “perfect storm.”

 

Video 1. This video shows footage of the results of the Bam Earthquake, as well as firsthand accounts and narration of those affected.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sources:

Centre, U. (n.d.). Bam and its Cultural Landscape. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1208/

Electricpulp.com. (n.d.). Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bam-earthquake-2003

Fathi, N. (2003, December 27). Powerful Earthquake in Iran Kills Thousands. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/27/world/powerful-earthquake-in-iran-kills-thousands.html

Manafpour, A. R. (n.d.). THE BAM, IRAN EARTHQUAKE OF 26 DECEMBER 2003. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.preventionweb.net/files/2770_Ali20Manafpour20Bam20report20pre20review.pdf

Organization. (2017, December 27). On the occasion of 2003 Bam earthquake. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/419753/On-the-occasion-of-2003-Bam-earthquake

Platform, I. (n.d.). Bam Earthquake, 2003 - Countries & Disasters. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.recoveryplatform.org/countries_and_disasters/disaster/35/bam_earthquake_2003