12 Seconds Bam

Michael Walter

In the early hours of the morning of 26th December 2003 an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit the city of Bam in South Eastern Iran.


Lasting a mere 12 seconds the shock killed over 26,000 people. Many were buried under the rubble, created when the characteristic mud brick houses collapsed.


The power of the quake and poor housing meant those few seconds were literally life or death. Relatively few people dug out alive later. Whole families were decimated and whole neighbourhoods flattened. In just 12 seconds the future of the city became uncertain.

venue: Hereford Cathedral