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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iran Earthquake, Official Death Toll Placed at 28,000
Aired December 30, 2003 - 06:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: With aftershocks still rattling the nerves of people barely coping with the tragedy and the death toll on the rise, almost all of the ancient city of Bam remains in complete devastation.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote is there this morning, and he joins us live via videophone.
U.S. aid workers, are they there -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're on their way. We understand that they're making their way to the camp base, where we are now, where all of the international aid organizations are based from the airport here, and they are expected any moment now.
Just to recap the situation here on the ground. Sadly, the death toll has risen to 28,000 -- that, according to an Iranian official here on the ground. That is the number of bodies that they have pulled from underneath the rubble since this earthquake about 100 hours ago.
Sadly, the U.N. official, who is coordinating this international relief effort, this morning told me that they have no verifiable accounts of anyone being saved by any of the international rescue teams here, being saved, being rescued from underneath that rubble. And a lot of the aid officials here on the ground, quite frankly, are saying that the more and more time goes by -- it's already been 100 hours -- it's less likely that someone will be found alive.
Now, five countries have pulled out of this relief effort today, including the United Kingdom and Germany, but more countries are coming in. Like you said, that team from the United States, some 80 members we are told. Among them, they will have an assessment team. They have the very important job of determining the humanitarian needs of the people here in Bam, and, of course, they are great.
First and foremost, the people here are concerned about the threat of the spread of disease from the decomposing bodies that have yet to be buried.
Other concerns, of course, are the massive now housing problem. Almost all of the structures in this city were destroyed in that earthquake on Friday -- literally flattened. And people have nowhere to sleep. They're sleeping in tents right now, most of them. But that's obviously not going to cut it for the rest of winter. It's getting colder and colder here. Back to that U.S. team for a moment. This could be a watershed moment. A lot of people here, at least the Iranians that I've spoken with, are hoping in U.S.-Iranian relations. This is the first time a U.S. team that we know of has come to this country, a U.S. delegation, since the Islamic revolution in 1979 to do official government work -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote reporting live from Bam, Iran, this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired December 30, 2003 - 06:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: With aftershocks still rattling the nerves of people barely coping with the tragedy and the death toll on the rise, almost all of the ancient city of Bam remains in complete devastation.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote is there this morning, and he joins us live via videophone.
U.S. aid workers, are they there -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're on their way. We understand that they're making their way to the camp base, where we are now, where all of the international aid organizations are based from the airport here, and they are expected any moment now.
Just to recap the situation here on the ground. Sadly, the death toll has risen to 28,000 -- that, according to an Iranian official here on the ground. That is the number of bodies that they have pulled from underneath the rubble since this earthquake about 100 hours ago.
Sadly, the U.N. official, who is coordinating this international relief effort, this morning told me that they have no verifiable accounts of anyone being saved by any of the international rescue teams here, being saved, being rescued from underneath that rubble. And a lot of the aid officials here on the ground, quite frankly, are saying that the more and more time goes by -- it's already been 100 hours -- it's less likely that someone will be found alive.
Now, five countries have pulled out of this relief effort today, including the United Kingdom and Germany, but more countries are coming in. Like you said, that team from the United States, some 80 members we are told. Among them, they will have an assessment team. They have the very important job of determining the humanitarian needs of the people here in Bam, and, of course, they are great.
First and foremost, the people here are concerned about the threat of the spread of disease from the decomposing bodies that have yet to be buried.
Other concerns, of course, are the massive now housing problem. Almost all of the structures in this city were destroyed in that earthquake on Friday -- literally flattened. And people have nowhere to sleep. They're sleeping in tents right now, most of them. But that's obviously not going to cut it for the rest of winter. It's getting colder and colder here. Back to that U.S. team for a moment. This could be a watershed moment. A lot of people here, at least the Iranians that I've spoken with, are hoping in U.S.-Iranian relations. This is the first time a U.S. team that we know of has come to this country, a U.S. delegation, since the Islamic revolution in 1979 to do official government work -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote reporting live from Bam, Iran, this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
