# Bam earthquake (26 December 2003)

URL: https://allhistories.com/iran/timeline/2003-bam-earthquake
Location: Bam, Kerman
Themes: Society

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes the city of Bam in Kerman province before dawn, killing about 26,000 people and destroying most of the city's mud-brick buildings, including much of the ancient citadel of Arg-e Bam. The United States sends aid teams, a rare instance of cooperation. Tens of thousands are injured and around 75,000 left homeless.

## Why it matters
The disaster devastated one of Iran's great heritage sites, later listed by UNESCO, and highlighted poor construction standards.

Ruler at the Time: [Ali Khamenei](https://allhistories.com/iran/rulers/ali-khamenei)

President of Iran: Mohammad Khatami (Association of Combatant Clerics)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 2003 Bam earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Bam_earthquake)
- [UNESCO: Bam and its Cultural Landscape](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1208/)
- [Wikipedia — Islamic Republic (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran)