Sequence of Events:
December 25th 2003- two foreshocks were felt the day before at 3 pm and 10 pm which caused panic and alarm among population
December 26th 2003-35 minutes before the main shock a powerful foreshock was felt
December 26th 2003-the main and most powerful earthquake hit Bam around 5:30 in the (slide 6) morning. Despite the relatively small magnitude (6.6) the earthquake caused most of the buildings in Bam to collapse. There was no organized rubble removal effort, and therefore no local search-and-rescue teams present during the first twenty-four hours of the earthquake. The local populace was mainly responsible for clearing the rubble and engaging in rescue work immediately following the earthquake.
January 8th 2003-the International Federation of the Red Cross and the U.N. launched an international appeal for relief together in Bam. 44 countries, including Russia, Britain, Germany and Spain, responded and sent in personnel to assist and 60 countries had offered assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake.
January 2nd 2004-Iranian authorities end search-and-rescue operations. Due to a lack of coordination only 22 people were saved during a 48 hour rescue period conducted by international relief teams.