"This is a terrible disaster to hit Bam and and as I told Foreign Minister (Kamal) Kharazi, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of this area who have been affected," Straw said in a press statement.

"Our condolences go to the relations of those who tragically perished in this natural disaster. We will do all we can to help," Straw said.

An unnamed government source in Iran told AFP the death toll was at least 15,000 people, while earlier, the governor of Kerman province, in which Bam is located, had put the toll at between 5,000 and 6,000.

State television had also said 30,000 people were injured in the quake which struck just before dawn Friday.

TERRA.WIRE