The 2003 Bam earthquake struck the Kerman province of southeastern
Iran at 01:56 UTC on December 26. The shock had a moment magnitude of
6.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The earthquake was
particularly destructive in Bam, with the death toll amounting to at
least 26,271 people and injuring up to 30,000. The effects of the
earthquake were exacerbated by the use of mud brick as the standard
construction medium; many of the area’s structures did not comply with
earthquake regulations set in 1989.
