Bam earthquake in 2003

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bam earthquake (2003)
2003 Bam earthquake (Iran)
Bullseye1.svg
date December 26, 2003
Time 05:26 am local time
intensity 9  on the MM scale
Magnitude 6.6  M W
depth 15 km
epicenter 29 ° 6 '30 "  N , 58 ° 21' 30"  E Coordinates: 29 ° 6 '30 "  N , 58 ° 21' 30"  E
(10 km southwest of Bam)
country Iran
Affected places

Bam (Iran)

dead 26,271
Injured 30,000
damage Partial destruction of the city


The 2003 Bam earthquake struck Kerman Province in southeastern Iran on December 26 at 5:26 am local time ( Iran Standard Time ). It had a magnitude of 6.6 M W and an intensity of IX on the Mercalli .

The earthquake completely destroyed parts of the city of Bam and officially claimed 26,271 deaths. Another 30,000 people were injured. The damage was so great, among other things, because adobe bricks were the standard building material in the city. Many buildings in the region did not meet the requirements of the earthquake protection.

Aid workers from 44 countries were involved in the on-site rescue operations. 60 states offered assistance.

As a result of the earthquake, the Iranian government temporarily even considered relocating the capital Tehran , as it lies on a similar seismic fault as Bam. A separate authority was founded to reduce urban development problems in the country (active earthquake protection) and to rebuild the city of Bam. The government, international organizations and residents worked together on the systematic construction, which was particularly under the aspect of earthquake-proof construction.

background

The city of Bam

Before the earthquake, the city of Bam had a population of around 97,000. It was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iran, especially because of its 2000 year old adobe citadel, the largest adobe building in the world, and the medieval old town, which has been restored since 1953.

During the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736) Bam was a large trading center on the Silk Road .

Earthquake protection in Iran from the quake

The protection against earthquakes was relatively poor in Iran, although an authority for public earthquake formation was established as early as 1990, which was supposed to increase safety and precaution against damage and to set up an earthquake emergency service. In October 2003, Bahram Akasheh, the then professor of geophysics at the University of Tehran , warned of the possible consequences of the low earthquake protection.

Tectonics of the region

Iran lies in a tectonically very active region. The tensions, which regularly discharge in smaller tremors and earthquakes, result from the fact that two plates collide exactly below the land . The Arabian plate moves north at a speed of up to 3 cm per year and collides with the Eurasian plate . A side effect of this movement is the unfolding of the numerous high mountain ranges that cut through Iran in an east-west direction.

Initial analyzes of the earth's movement on December 26, 2003 indicate that the earthquake was triggered by an abrupt lateral movement on a fault . There are many large north-south faults that have already been mapped in advance in the region. One of these zones, which was previously known as the Bam Fault, is probably the epicenter of the quake. Just 100 km south of the Gowk Fault, two severe quakes took place in 1981 with a total of almost 11,000 deaths (June 11: magnitude 6 6; July 28: magnitude 7.3).

The plate segment, which moved abruptly in the quake, is estimated to have a total length of 15 miles, with much of the energy coming from a 13-mile southern fragment of the Earth's plate. The displacement between the two plates, which occurred in a very short time during the quake, reached up to 270 centimeters with a load peak of 6 MPa . Geological data obtained later show that the Bam Fault consists of a 4-5 km wide fault system with the main branch exactly between the towns of Bam and Baravat . Scientists suspect that the great destructive power of the earthquake was caused by an unusually tight wedge ( asperity ) of the two plates. Accordingly, the high tension was discharged in one fell swoop, in that a previously barely detectable new fault formed.

Damage and sacrifice

Earthquake damage in Bam

The earthquake occurred on December 26, 2003 at 5:26 am local time. Its epicenter was about 10 km southwest of the ancient city of Bam. In addition to Bam, the neighboring town of Baravat and the buildings within a radius of 16 km were also badly affected.

Officially, the quake claimed 26,271 dead and 30,000 injured. Initial statements of up to 40,000 dead did not come true, as some victims were counted several times. The quake was the most serious in the history of Iran to date. Most of the victims were surprised by the quake in their sleep. Among the dead were around 11,000 students and a good 20% of the teaching staff, which posed major challenges for the local education system.

It is estimated that nearly 90% of the buildings and infrastructure were destroyed or affected by the quake. Around 70% of the residential buildings could no longer be moved into. Therefore, almost 100,000 homeless people were expected in the region. There wasn't a single house left in the city of Baravat. A large part of the building stock came from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Bam was an important regional center, and could not counter the strength of the earthquake. Most of the houses had been built by hand by their owners who had no experience in earthquake-proof materials and construction methods. Usually traditional mud bricks were used as building material. Mohsen Aboutorabi , Professor of Architecture at the University of Birmingham , showed that these bricks cracked when they hit one another .

Building damage in Bam

The main reason for the high number of victims was that after the walls collapsed, many people were buried by the falling heavy clay ceilings under which they were suffocated by dust and lack of oxygen. The Iranian government decided to enforce penalties for violations of building regulations and to set up a separate unit to review the specifications.

A study of 210 victims found that they spent an average of 1.9 hours under the rubble before they were rescued. 19 of them had reduced blood flow to individual limbs ( compartment syndrome ) due to the bruises , 32 had reduced kidney function and most suffered bone fractures. Neurological damage from fractures was also common.

Before the earthquake, Bam had one of the largest and best-preserved adobe buildings in the world with its large adobe citadel. This was almost completely destroyed during the quake.

In addition, the earthquake destroyed the electricity and water supplies in the region. At least 29 aftershocks hit the region. A large number of schools were damaged or completely destroyed. About 1200 teachers and 10,000 students died. The surviving students and teachers were severely traumatized. It was not until January 5, 2004 that lessons began to be continued.

consequences

Relations between Iran and the USA

US auxiliaries in Bam

Diplomatic relations between Iran and the US have been complicated since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. A low point was reached in 2002 when US President George W. Bush officially designated Iran as part of the axis of evil . Nevertheless, the Americans offered the state humanitarian aid, which was initially rejected. On December 30th, an 81-strong relief team was sent to provide medical assistance, among other things. In order to fly the team in, Iran agreed to allow a US military plane to land.

In return, the first rapprochement began in the nuclear dispute between the two states, which had been smoldering for years. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that face-to-face talks should resume in the near future. Some sanctions have also been temporarily lifted to help the victims of the disaster.

The response to American aid to Iran has been mixed. Iran's state radio INRA accused the US government of interfering in internal affairs, among other things. The then Iranian Interior Minister Mohammed Chatemi supported the aid. The interior minister Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari , however, stuck to the refusal of Israeli aid.

First aid

A US politician described Bam as "literally a pile of rubble" after the earthquake. The Iranian President called the earthquake a national tragedy and called on all Iranians to help the victims. The disaster sparked a wave of aid that Chatemi described as the "spirit of humanity". On December 29, the supreme religious leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i visited the region and asked all Iranians and the international community for all forms of help.

On January 8, 2004, the Red Cross and the UN convened an international donor conference for Bam to raise US $ 42 million in aid. A total of 44 countries sent aid workers to the disaster region and 60 countries offered help with reconstruction. By January 15, the United Nations World Food Program had provided 100,000 food rations. The UN sent experts to assess the cost of rebuilding, and the Red Crescent set up camps for the survivors.

Tent erection by the UN near Bam

One of the first countries to actively provide aid was the People's Republic of China, which sent a 43-strong rescue team immediately after the earthquake became known. In total, the Chinese government donated 15 million yuan, and many private individuals and companies raised funds.

Among other things, the USA sent an emergency team as well as over 1,100 tents, almost 4,500 makeshift kitchens, 14,500 blankets, 430 rolls of plastic film and almost 68 tons of medical equipment.

Since the earthquake occurred in winter, many of the survivors suffered from the extremely low temperatures during the nights and some died as a result. At the beginning, most of the people lived in unheated tents in the rubble. Over time, many families were transferred to heated camps outside the city. Many residents did not want to leave the city.

On December 29th, a baby was found alive after three days. At this point in time, the aid had largely started. Although three more survivors were found that day, the helpers began to concentrate more on restoring the infrastructure. In this way, the water and electricity supply in most parts of the city could be restored in these days.

One of the most notable successes was the rescue of 97-year-old Sharbānou Māzandarānī, who was only rescued from the rubble after eight days on January 3rd. The last living victim was found on January 8th.

Effects

Shortly after the earthquake, Iran discussed whether the capital Tehran should be relocated. Like Bam, it lies in a zone with strong faults and, according to many experts, is acutely threatened by similarly strong earthquakes. Among other things, Isfahan in central Iran , which had served as the capital for a long time until it was moved to Tehran in 1788, came into question.

Due to the earthquake in Bam, 2003 was the year with the most earthquake victims since 1990. Around 75% of the victims occurred in the city.

reconstruction

Planning work

In January 2004, the United Nations estimated the cost of rebuilding the city at US $ 700 million to US $ 1 billion. A call was made to the international community to collect the sum.

With the realization that the mud bricks could not withstand the earthquake, special emphasis was placed on the selection of suitable building materials. In addition to the building materials, an earthquake-proof construction should also be aimed for. During the reconstruction work, the homeless were provided with temporary living space by a housing foundation. Before the new building was built, the rubble from 19,000 destroyed buildings had to be removed in Bam alone. In the rural area, 4000 damaged buildings had to be cleared.

The government of Iran established a Bam Reconstruction Bureau, which played a key role in the reconstruction. It reviewed the architects' plans, compared possible strategies for reconstruction and developed strategies to reduce the susceptibility to earthquakes in the future. In addition, a council of architects and urban planners with eight prominent specialists from architecture, mechanical engineering and business was founded. This grouping should actively lead the development and monitor the financing and compliance with new regulations. The United Nations Program for Human Settlements was involved in the reconstruction together with the Iranian government with a six-month project.

Rebuild problems

During the reconstruction, conflicts arose over the aims of the projects because of the numerous organizations, people and groups involved. The formation of a consensus z. B. about architectural decisions turned out to be extremely difficult. In reality, the share of large projects and international organizations in the set-up was less than planned and implementation was much slower than planned. The planning was tedious and not yet completed after two years, which led to dissatisfaction among the companies involved and the residents. In many cases, construction work was carried out that did not match the plans. The government guaranteed grants for the reconstruction. Nevertheless, in 2006, many residents decided to continue living in camps.

Reconstruction successes

Although the reconstruction was slow and major problems arose at the planning stage, the process is extremely important because it affects the way in which such large projects can be carried out in the future. Overall, much more attention was paid to earthquake-proof construction and compliance with building regulations.

In economic terms, the structure of Bam seems to give Bam a great opportunity for growth and a successful new start. Above all, the modern infrastructure such as the new water and sewer pipes are a great advantage of the city. In particular, the production of fruit and dates has become more effective thanks to the pipeline systems and experienced an increase in investment and employment after the earthquake.

Medical consequences

The earthquake has not only acute but also protracted psychological consequences for the victims. At first, the difficult care of the numerous injured was in the foreground. Two hospitals were completely destroyed in the quake and the rest of the images could hardly provide adequate care for the victims. About half of the city's medical staff died in the quake. The WHO asked for US $ 4 million for medical aid. Mental care should also be a focus, as many victims were severely traumatized by the earthquake and its consequences. A report shows that many residents suffer from post-traumatic stress and depression.

In December 2004, one year after the quake, Mohammed Mukhier, head of a delegation from the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Iran, certified that the consequences of the earthquake are still present in the form of destroyed buildings and in the minds of the victims.

A psychological program looked after almost 20,000 people at the time. The Iranian Red Crescent received support from Denmark, Iceland and Italy, among others. However, the main funding was provided by the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Union. The program not only provided conventional medical therapies, but also recreational facilities such as painting, sewing, and computer courses.

Bam's main hospital was rebuilt. However, some temporary emergency rooms were kept active with a view to possible future disasters. In response to the earthquake, the International Federation of the Red Cross has increasingly mobilized international funds and resources to support the Iranian Red Crescent. This applies not only to acute coping strategies in the event of an environmental disaster, but also to the construction of a municipal health center and ten schools for a training program for rescue workers.

Increase in drug use

Another effect of the severely damaged health care system and traumatic experience from the earthquake was an increase in drug problems. Many earthquake victims started using drugs. Since Bam is on a trade route to one of the largest poppy growing areas in the world in Afghanistan, opium in particular was cheap and easy to get hold of. In 2006, an estimated 50% of men and 15% of women were dependent.

Cinematic representation

The film " Colors of Memory " from 2008 is about a doctor who returns home to Bam after 33 years in Germany. Dr. Parsa flies to Tehran to carry out a complex operation. There he meets an old friend who persuades him to go back to Bam. On the way they pass the rubble and the destruction and Dr. Parsa remembers scenes from his childhood again.

The 2006 documentary “ Voices of Bam ” is a Dutch production .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Iran lowers Bam earthquake great . In: BBC News , BBC , March 29, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2008. 
  2. ↑ Ali Montazeri, Baradaran, Hamid; Omidvari, Sepideh; Azin, Seyed Ali; Ebadi, Mehdi; Garmaroudi, Gholamreza; Harirchi, Amir Mahmood; Shariat, Mohammadi: Psychologikal distress among Bam earthquake survivors in Iran: a population-based study . In: BMC Public Health . 5, January 2005, p. 4. doi : 10.1186 / 1471-2458-5-4 . PMID 15644145 . PMC 548264 (free full text).
  3. ↑ Bam: Jewel of Iranian heritage . In: BBC News , BBC , December 27, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2008. 
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Iran earthquake kills thousands . In: BBC News , BBC , December 26, 2003. Retrieved August 19, 2008. 
  5. ^ Introducing Public Education Department . Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008. 
  6. ↑ Haleh Anvari, Whitaker, Brian: There is nothing but debris and devastation . In: The Guardian , December 27, 2003. Retrieved November 18, 2008. 
  7. ↑ a b Tectonic Summary: Magnitude 6.6 SOUTHEASTERN IRAN . In: United States Geological Survey . United States Department of the Interior . December 25, 2003. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 13, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / neic.usgs.gov
  8. ^ R. Wang Y. Xia, H. Grosser, HU. Wetzel, H. Kaufmann, J. Zschau: The 2003 Bam (SE Iran) earthquake: precise source parameters from satellite radar interferometry . In: Geophysical Journal International . tape 159 , no. 3 , October 2004, p. 917 , doi : 10.1111 / j.1365-246X.2004.02476.x , bibcode : 2004GeoJI.159..917W .
  9. ^ "Iran earthquake kills trillions", British Broadcasting Corporation (2004).
  10. ^ A b Carlos Sousa Oliviera, Antoni Roca, Xavier Goula: Assessing and Managing Earthquake Risk: Geo-scientific and Engineering Knowledge for Earthquake Risk Mitigation: Developments, Tools, Techniques . Springer, Dordrecht 2006, ISBN 978-1-4020-3524-1 , p. 445, OCLC 62749837 .
  11. ↑ a b c d e f Iran quake toll may hit 50,000 . In: China Daily , December 31, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2008. 
  12. ↑ Fathi, Nazila: Deadly Earthquake Jolts City in Southeast Iran . In: The New York Times , December 26, 2003. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2008. 
  13. ↑ a b c d e Iran's hope fades for quake survivors . In: China Daily , December 29, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
  14. ^ A b Clare Murphy: Starting from scratch in Bam . In: BBC News , BBC , January 2, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2008. 
  15. ↑ a b Iran to prosecute over building law breaches in Bam . In: China Daily , January 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
  16. ↑ Mohammad Tahmasebi Naghi, Kambiz Kiana, Mazlouman Shahriar, Afshin Taheri, Reza Kamrani Shahriar, Behnam Panjavi, Harandi Bahador Alami: Musculoskeletal injuries associated with earthquake: A report of injuries of Iran's December 26, 2003 Bam earthquake casualties managed in tertiary referral centers . In: Elsevier . 36, No. 1, January 2005, pp. 27-32. doi : 10.1016 / j.injury.2004.06.021 . PMID 15589909 . Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  17. ^ " Week on, Iran mourns quake that 'made world cry' . In: China Daily , January 2, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
  18. ↑ a b c d Iran considers moving capital . In: BBC News , BBC , January 5, 2004. Retrieved October 16, 2008. 
  19. ^ A b Paul Reynolds: The politics of earthquakes . In: BBC News , BBC , December 30, 2003. Retrieved October 16, 2008. 
  20. ^ Scott Ritter : Target Iran: The Truth about the White House's Plans for Regime Change . Nation Books, New York City 2006, ISBN 978-1-56025-936-7 , pp. 107-108, OCLC 71374915 .
  21. ↑ a b c d e 97-year-old quake victim rescued in Iran . In: China Daily , January 4, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
  22. ^ Major Iran quake kills thousands in ancient city . In: China Daily , December 27, 2003. Retrieved November 18, 2008. 
  23. ↑ a b Promise to rebuild quake-hit city . In: China Daily , December 31, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2008. 
  24. ^ A b Assistance for Iranian Earthquake Victims . In: USAID . January 16, 2004. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  25. ↑ China offers another 10m yuan to Iran . In: China Daily , December 31, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2008. 
  26. ↑ Dead mother's embrace saves Iranian baby's life . In: China Daily , December 29, 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  27. ↑ 97-year-old quake victim rescued in Iran . In: China Daily . Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  28. ↑ a b c Rebuilding Bam 'could cost $ 1bn' . In: BBC News , BBC , January 9, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2008. 
  29. ↑ Earthquakes Kill Thousands In 2003; Deadliest Year Since 1990 . In: Science Daily , January 16, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved on November 4, 2008. 
  30. ^ A b Reconstruction still being debated in Bam . In: Integrated Regional Information Networks , February 26, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2008. 
  31. ↑ a b c Alireza Fallahi: Lessons learned from the housing reconstruction following the Bam earthquake in Iran . (PDF) In: Australian Journal of Emergency Management . 22, No. 1, February 2007, p. 30.
  32. ↑ a b c d Asgary, Ali; Badri, Ali; Rafieian, Mojtaba; Hajinejad, Ali: Lost and Used Post-Disaster Development Opportunities in Bam Earthquake and the Role of Stakeholders . In: University of Montreal . Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  33. ↑ Ahoura Mekinazarian: Analyzing Social Resilience in Reconstruction of Post-earthquake Bam. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009 ; accessed on September 2, 2016 .
  34. ^ A b Robert Tait: After the earthquake, Bam battles with heroin and Aids . In: The Guardian , May 11, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2008. 
  35. ↑ a b c Bam earthquake: one year later, thousands still need psychological support . International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. December 20, 2004. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  36. ↑ Liz Braun: 'Colors Of Memory' honors Iran . In: Jam! Showbiz . 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.