Bam Earthquake · Zelzeleh-ye Bam

Culture of origin: Iranian · Historical

Holiday sources: Iran

Before dawn on 26 December 2003 a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Bam in Kerman province, a city of mud-brick buildings and home to the 2,000-year-old mud-brick Bam Citadel. Up to 95% of the area's buildings were damaged or destroyed. The death toll was long disputed: the Statistical Center of Iran gave 26,271, while the Crisis Management Organization later confirmed 34,000 dead and 200,000 injured. At least 10,000 students and 1,200 teachers were among the dead.