Death toll from Iran quake could exceed 30,000: Kerman governorate

BAM, Iran (AFP) Dec 28, 2003
The death toll from the earthquake which struck the Bam region of southeast Iran could rise to more than 30,000, the provincial governorate said Sunday.

"We expect the number of dead to exceed 30,000," said an official of Kerman governorate in the disaster zone.

Earlier, the governor's office said 22,000 people had died in Friday's quake, a provisional toll confirmed by the interior ministry.

Interior ministry spokesman Jahanbakhsh Khanjani also said that the search and rescue mission will continue until teams are certain they can find no more victims alive.

TERRA.WIRE