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Widespread Destruction in Bam Was Foreseen - 2003-12-30

Feb 8, 2026 February 8, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Qasem Heydari Nejad highlighted that the widespread destruction in Bam due to an earthquake was predicted by experts who recommended adherence to Standard 2800 for building designs. He noted that had this standard been followed, the hospitals in Bam would have survived the disaster. This situation underscores the need for improved building regulations in earthquake-prone areas.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Improving building standards in earthquake-prone areas is essential to prevent future tragedies like the Bam disaster.

👥 Key Players

Qasem Heydari Nejad MENTIONED
Head of the Iranian Building and Housing Research Center
"He is a key figure in advocating for building safety standards in Iran, particularly in earthquake-prone regions."

📰 What Happened

Qasem Heydari Nejad stated that the widespread destruction in Bam due to an earthquake was predicted by experts who recommended adherence to Standard 2800 for building designs. He emphasized that following this standard could have prevented the destruction of hospitals in the region.

  • Standard 2800 was designed to create earthquake-resistant buildings.
  • The Bam region had a history of seismic calm, leading to negligence in building regulations.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This highlights the urgent need for improved building regulations to prevent future disasters in Iran's earthquake-prone areas.
🌍 Regional: It raises awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness in the broader Middle Eastern context, where seismic activity is common.
🌐 International: International organizations may need to engage more with Iran on building safety and disaster response strategies.

📚 Background

Iran is located on major tectonic plates, making it susceptible to earthquakes. The Bam earthquake was one of the deadliest in recent history, prompting discussions on building safety.

Earthquake preparedness Building safety standards
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The source is a state-run news agency, which may reflect government perspectives on building regulations and safety.

Qasem Heydari Nejad, head of the Iranian Building and Housing Research Center, stated: "During the preparation of the building design regulations known as Standard 2800, experts wisely predicted widespread destruction in the event of an earthquake in the Bam region." According to ISNA, he emphasized: "If the buildings in Bam County had been designed using Standard 2800, at least the hospitals in this county would not have been destroyed." Heydari Nejad further clarified: "Due to the two-thousand-year history of calm in the region, no one paid attention to this matter, and now that destruction has occurred, we realize that if Standard 2800 had been adhered to for designing earthquake-resistant buildings, at least the hospitals would not have been destroyed."

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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