Iranian officials say that so far, the bodies of twenty-five thousand victims of the severe earthquake that occurred on Friday in Bam, located in southeastern Iran, have been found; and more bodies are expected to be discovered under the rubble. The death toll rose on Tuesday coinciding with the visit of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Mohammad Khatami to Bam to assess the actual level of destruction. Iranian officials state that the search for survivors continues, but the likelihood of finding live victims is rapidly decreasing. More than two thousand people were rescued on Saturday and Sunday. As the search for survivors of the horrific earthquake in Bam decreases, the Supreme Leader of Iran has promised to rebuild the devastated city to its former glory. Ayatollah Khamenei traveled to the ancient city of Bam on Tuesday for an accurate assessment of the extent of the destruction. He expressed his sorrow to the survivors for their loss of loved ones and also promised that the city of Bam would be rebuilt stronger than before.
Visit of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Mohammad Khatami to the Earthquake-Stricken Areas of Bam - 2003-12-29
A devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran, has resulted in the death of twenty-five thousand people, with ongoing searches for survivors. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami visited the area to assess the damage and promised to rebuild the city. This event highlights the government's response to natural disasters and its commitment to reconstruction.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A severe earthquake struck Bam, Iran, causing massive casualties and destruction. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami visited the site to assess damage and pledged to rebuild the city.
- The earthquake resulted in approximately twenty-five thousand deaths.
- Efforts to find survivors are ongoing but becoming less hopeful.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Bam is famous for its ancient citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which suffered extensive damage. Iran is prone to earthquakes due to its location on seismic fault lines.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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