The Bam Earthquake Analysis and its Geomorphological Manifestations and Evidences

Bam is a historical city located like a pearl in the heart of Lut Desert and on theKerman-Zahedan highway. By virtue of the primeval mud-constructed citadel (Arg eBam which was founded about 2000 years ago), the city has acquired a world-widename and fame. Unfortunately, a harrowing and horrendous earthquake measuring 6.5on the Richter scale jolted the city early on a Friday morning exactly at 5:26:26 AM;December 26, 2003. The city was razed to the ground inflicting heavy losses of life andproperty. More than 110,000 inhabitants lived in Bam before December 26, 2003earthquake. More than 35,000 people were killed, about fifty thousand were injured andmany people were rendered homeless by the vicious earthquake that shook the groundon the 26th of December, 2003.Though several papers have been written on the Bam earthquake tragedy, this paperinitially endeavors to tackle the analysis of the Bam earthquake phenomenon anddiscuss the natural and general causes and grounds prompting such a high death toll andan extensive loss of property; and then take into account the geomorphologicalevidences and manifestations resulting from the aforementioned calamity.