Bam earthquake case study

Question 1

When and where was the Bam earthquake?

Answer 1

The Bam earthquake was in central Iran at 26th of December 2003 at 5:26 am

Question 2

What caused the Bam earthquake?

Answer 2

6.6 magnitude earthquake at the Eurasian destructive plate boundary.
Epicentre was 10km directly underneath of Bam

Question 3

What were the impacts of the Bam earthquake?

Answer 3

• 34-43 thousand died
• 60 thousand people left homeless
• injured up to 200 thousand
• 70% of houses completely destroyed
• ## 11,000 students and 1,080 teaching staff were killed

Question 4

Why is the Bam earthquake of interest?

Answer 4

Houses made of mud-brick buildings collapsed completely

Although the magnitude wasn’t that high many people died showing there isn’t always a direct link between magnitude and severity of impacts.

Shows what a lack of preventative measures can cause amidst a disaster