Search, Rescue, and Care of the Injured following the 2003 Bam, Iran, Earthquake

Relief efforts started soon after the earthquake, but organized search and rescue missions were absent during the first 24 hours after the disaster. Once on their way, these missions were paralyzed by the chaos that ruled the first few days of the event, the harsh terrain, and the cold weather. Rubble removal and rescue of the trapped became secondary to transfer of the injured to hospitals. Most of the injured people were originally taken to Kerman city for stabilization before they were flown to other cities in Iran for further medical care. The hospitals in Kerman city were greatly burdened by this task. However, they performed heroically given scarce resources and staff, especially during the initial days of the disaster. By the second week of the disaster, field hospitals were operational in Bam and were able to provide care for people, relieving the pressure on Kerman city.