So far, no foolproof method has been devised to predict an approaching earthquake. Scientist has created artificial earthquakes in the laboratories to apprise the people of their various aspects.
But, it is not essential that the earthquakes should always occur in the same manner. Some earthquakes are said to start from 30 to 100 kilometers below the surface of the Earth and others from 100 to 650 kilometers below it.
A violent earthquake shook the city of Bam, 1285 km southeast of Teheran in Iran at 5.28 a.m. (07.281ST) on 26 December 2003. The earthquake was of the magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was outside Bam, about 1000 km southeast of Tehran. The quake hit the city when most of the people were in bed.
Image Source : legoengineering.com
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The city had a population of 80,000 and death toll was high. The citadel of Bam was destroyed. Telephone links with Bam were severed and the authorities were in contact with the city area through radio and satellite phone links. More than 90 percent buildings in the city were demolished.
The international community came to the rescue of the Iranian People and tents, blankets, canned food, bread, clothing and medicines were donated liberally by some countries and sent to affected area.
Another quake rock South Asia. Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan are badly hit by the killer quake raising the death toll to 80000 in Pakistan and more than 1500 in Batalik village of Jammu & Kashmir. India extended her hands for help of earthquake victims in Pakistan also.