1.14 - Bam Flashcards
1
Q
When did the earthquake take place?
A
December 2003
2
Q
What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
A
6.6Mw
3
Q
Which plates meet near Bam?
A
Arabian and Eurasian
4
Q
How many people were killed?
A
26000
5
Q
Where is Bam located?
A
- Southern Iran
- Located in the desert
- 190km away from the nearest major town, Kerman
- On a road connecting Iran to Pakistan
- Contains the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Arg-e-Bam Citadel
6
Q
What are most of the buildings in Bam made of?
A
- Adobe, a mix of earth and organic materials, mainly due to location
- Some were as old as 2400 years old
7
Q
What time did the earthquake take place?
A
5:26 am
8
Q
How many nations sent search and rescue teams to Bam?
A
26
9
Q
How deep was the earthquake focus?
A
7km, shallow
10
Q
What issues were there with the buildings?
A
- The old town of Bam has a high population density
- in the new city, the buildings are of poor quality as Iranian building code was poorly enforced
- Wooden buildings in Bam had previously suffered termite infestations (pre-weakening)
- Buildings built to ancient techniques had very heavy roofs
- When adobe buildings collapsed, they covered people with a dense blanket of dust, suffocation likely
11
Q
How was the response affected by the building choices?
A
- All 3 main hospitals were destroyed to some extent
- 20% of healthcare professionals were killed by building collapse
- others were unable to administer medical care as they were injured themselves
12
Q
What effect did the time of the earthquake have on the death toll?
A
- Cold temperatures meant most deaths were due to trapped victims succumbing to hypothermia rather than direct crush injuries
- Early morning meant that most people were asleep, had no way of escaping
13
Q
Were there any precursors to the earthquake occurring?
A
- tremors were felt the night before the earthquake, some decided to sleep outside as a result
- Local authorities did not act on this though
14
Q
How would have the response been affected by the location?
A
- Bam is in the arid desert
- Large variety of temperatures throughout day
- cold nights, warm days
- makes rescue hard
