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CNN Sunday Morning
Iran Earthquake: World Aid
Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:59 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the news is getting grimmer in Iran. Government officials say 15,000 earthquake victims already have been buried, and hope is fading that more victims are alive beneath tons of rubble.
However, on a somewhat brighter note, dozens of relief planes have arrived from all over the world, including some from the U.S.
Reporter Kasra Naji now joins us from Bam with the very latest information.
Good day, Kasra. What can you tell us -- the very latest? Certainly it's been an agonizing 48 hours there.
KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.
They've been burying dead bodies here so high -- in mass graves -- so high is the death toll and the casualties of the earthquake that struck more than 20 --48 hours ago. In fact, we had the Interior Ministry -- minister visiting this area, saying they have already buried 15,000 people. And he told CNN that he expects the final death toll to be as high as 20,000. And he may well be right, because there are still dead bodies strewn in the streets and alleyways here (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the stench of dead bodies overpowering here.
In the meantime, time is running out for those people who may still be alive under the rubble. We've had thousands of Iranian rescue workers, and dozens of search and rescue teams from a host of countries. More than 20 countries have been contributing. They have been going through the town between themselves, trying to work the rubble and try to rescue people if they can.
In the meantime, aid is coming from a variety of sources, including from abroad, many countries -- and, as you said including the United States. We have a -- an airport official confirming this morning that two planes from the United States bringing u.s. aid and medical supplies. They arrived here this morning, and this official told me that they expect more planes from the United States to arrive to bring in more aid supplies.
Such is the extent of disaster that Iran's adversary is happy to give and Iran is happy to receive -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Let's talk a bit about just the sheer chaos going there. What is the management like on the ground just trying to get some kind of order in an area like that? We see the mud and brick homes simply devastated, and also we have to presume that a lot of loved ones are simply separated from each other right now and don't know the fate of other family members.
NAJI: That's right. A lot of injured have been taken to various hospitals throughout the country, not just around here. And in the process, many of the injured, people have been separated from their loved ones. We have had cases like, you know, so many hundreds of people have been taken to hospitals in Tehran, the capital, and a mother is in one hospital, the daughter is in another hospital, and they have no idea whether -- from each other -- whether they haven't heard from each other. They don't know whether they're still alive or what. And this is causing a good deal of stress and concern among those people in hospitals.
In terms of the management, it's completely chaotic here. There's no doubt about that. There's too many, in fact, rescue workers here. There are all sorts of volunteers who have come from throughout the country to lend a hand in all goodwill to help their countrymen, to help their brothers and sisters. But as a result, everyone is doing their own thing. There is no central sort of management system that controls all these forces, all these resources. And international rescue teams also who are complaining that they have their resources, they have the equipment, they have the sniffer dogs, but nobody's telling them where to go, and they basically have to go and search for themselves and see what they can do.
So such is the chaos here. But, I mean, this is expected here, really, because the extent of the disaster is such and that -- the speed that any aid is needed, rescue is needed, you're bound to have this kind of chaotic situation here.
But, you know, it is very noticeable. If there was some kind of central management things would have been much better and probably a lot more people would have been saved.
CALLEBS: Unfortunately, in the face of a disaster that often comes later than sooner.
We saw some very graphic pictures of people just trying to dig with their hands. Tell us the kind of conditions that this community, basically a quarter of a million people, affected by this devastating earthquake -- what are they living like? We know the temperatures get to freezing at night. Is there any source of drinkable water? Is that getting in? Do they have blankets? Do they have tents? What is needed right now?
NAJI: Food, shelter -- shelter, blankets, that kind of thing to begin with. Because, as you said, this is a desert town, and at night, it gets below freezing temperature here, and thousands of people spend the last two nights out in the open without much food or water.
I saw one scene today -- there was a pick-up truck that brought some aid, some bread, some loaves of bread, some blankets and some other things that I couldn't make out what they were actually boxes and thing. And as soon as it turned in a crowded area, it was besieged by people and it was basically robbed in less than a minute. Everything had been gone, because, basically a lot of people are hungry. They need water, they need food, they need blankets, they need shelter in this cold weather. And beyond that -- after that, of course you need medical supplies and other necessities. But for the moment, the most immediate things, bread and shelter - Sean.
CALLEBS: Kasra Naji, from Bam with the very latest information, we greatly appreciate it. Our hearts go out to them and we know the U.S. and 20 other nations are rushing supplies there as quickly as possible. Thanks again -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As you have probably heard, many of the homes in that region are made of mud brick, not the most stable building material.
Mohammad Ehsani is an Iranian American, a structural engineer and an expert on protecting buildings from earthquakes. Just a couple of years ago, he also visited Bam, the city in the quake's bullseye. He is joining us this morning by telephone.
Thanks for being with us, and I want to ask you quickly if I could -- because we already know and we've heard quite a bit about the mud brick, why in particular was this such a destructive quake? Many of those buildings are made of mud, but have been around for a very, very long time.
MOHAMMAD EHSANI, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Yes, good morning.
In buildings which are constructed with mud, as was the case in the case of this city, they do not appear to perform generally well in the case of earthquakes. Of course, the technology is currently there to construct earthquake-protected structures, but unfortunately, in many countries in that region, including Iran, these codes are not followed.
COLLINS: Hmm. And I know that you were in Bam just a few years ago. As a structural engineer, when you left that area, was it alarming to you? Did you feel like this was certainly a city at risk of a disaster?
EHSANI: Yes. Of course, you know, when one looks at all of these old buildings which do not have any reinforcing steel in them, it's just like a ticking bomb, and I think, just to put it in perspective for your viewers, for example, the 1989 Loma-Prieta Earthquake, which occurred near -- in northern California, was much stronger, with a magnitude of 7.1. In that earthquake, only 67 loss of life occurred, in comparison this one, which is a much weaker earthquake and we have now estimates of 30,000 to 40,000 casualties.
COLLINS: Wow. That is an unbelievable comparison there.
Any idea if, after this horrible, horrible tragedy, there might be a chance that the builders and the people in this country will comply then with stricter building code?
EHSANI: Well, you know, we certainly -- our hope and our fear is that in larger cities in Iran, such as Tehran for example, those structures are also -- are not constructed according to the latest codes and, of course, when you have a city of 12 million or 15 million, if something like this were to happen there, it would be quite tragic.
COLLINS: Just want to ask you -- as we've mentioned, you are an Iranian Iranian-American coming to us from Los Angeles, where many people of Iranian heritage live. How is the news being taken there, in the community that is?
EHSANI: Well, you know, everybody has been shocked by the news and, of course, many of the people, as you noted, have relatives who are there. I understand that there were some -- even in Iran, there were some campuses of universities that students were among the casualties and, of course, these students come from all parts of Iran. So it is a national tragedy for all of us.
COLLINS: Another interesting quick point I want to make before we let you go. As you have probably heard, Iran is allowing U.S. military flights in for humanitarian supplies, something that the current leadership has never before allowed.
You think, in your opinion, this might lead to any type of relationship between Iran -- between ran and the West?
EHSANI: Well, I certainly hope so, and as your viewers may recall, following the 9/11 tragedy, more -- you know, thousands of citizens of Tehran came to the streets and held a candlelight vigil for the victims of that event and I hope that -- I'm sure that Americans would return the -- you know, the favor at this point.
COLLINS: Mr. Mohammad Ehsani, we certainly appreciate your insight this morning, coming to us from Los Angeles. Thanks again.
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 28, 2003 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the news is getting grimmer in Iran. Government officials say 15,000 earthquake victims already have been buried, and hope is fading that more victims are alive beneath tons of rubble.
However, on a somewhat brighter note, dozens of relief planes have arrived from all over the world, including some from the U.S.
Reporter Kasra Naji now joins us from Bam with the very latest information.
Good day, Kasra. What can you tell us -- the very latest? Certainly it's been an agonizing 48 hours there.
KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.
They've been burying dead bodies here so high -- in mass graves -- so high is the death toll and the casualties of the earthquake that struck more than 20 --48 hours ago. In fact, we had the Interior Ministry -- minister visiting this area, saying they have already buried 15,000 people. And he told CNN that he expects the final death toll to be as high as 20,000. And he may well be right, because there are still dead bodies strewn in the streets and alleyways here (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the stench of dead bodies overpowering here.
In the meantime, time is running out for those people who may still be alive under the rubble. We've had thousands of Iranian rescue workers, and dozens of search and rescue teams from a host of countries. More than 20 countries have been contributing. They have been going through the town between themselves, trying to work the rubble and try to rescue people if they can.
In the meantime, aid is coming from a variety of sources, including from abroad, many countries -- and, as you said including the United States. We have a -- an airport official confirming this morning that two planes from the United States bringing u.s. aid and medical supplies. They arrived here this morning, and this official told me that they expect more planes from the United States to arrive to bring in more aid supplies.
Such is the extent of disaster that Iran's adversary is happy to give and Iran is happy to receive -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Let's talk a bit about just the sheer chaos going there. What is the management like on the ground just trying to get some kind of order in an area like that? We see the mud and brick homes simply devastated, and also we have to presume that a lot of loved ones are simply separated from each other right now and don't know the fate of other family members.
NAJI: That's right. A lot of injured have been taken to various hospitals throughout the country, not just around here. And in the process, many of the injured, people have been separated from their loved ones. We have had cases like, you know, so many hundreds of people have been taken to hospitals in Tehran, the capital, and a mother is in one hospital, the daughter is in another hospital, and they have no idea whether -- from each other -- whether they haven't heard from each other. They don't know whether they're still alive or what. And this is causing a good deal of stress and concern among those people in hospitals.
In terms of the management, it's completely chaotic here. There's no doubt about that. There's too many, in fact, rescue workers here. There are all sorts of volunteers who have come from throughout the country to lend a hand in all goodwill to help their countrymen, to help their brothers and sisters. But as a result, everyone is doing their own thing. There is no central sort of management system that controls all these forces, all these resources. And international rescue teams also who are complaining that they have their resources, they have the equipment, they have the sniffer dogs, but nobody's telling them where to go, and they basically have to go and search for themselves and see what they can do.
So such is the chaos here. But, I mean, this is expected here, really, because the extent of the disaster is such and that -- the speed that any aid is needed, rescue is needed, you're bound to have this kind of chaotic situation here.
But, you know, it is very noticeable. If there was some kind of central management things would have been much better and probably a lot more people would have been saved.
CALLEBS: Unfortunately, in the face of a disaster that often comes later than sooner.
We saw some very graphic pictures of people just trying to dig with their hands. Tell us the kind of conditions that this community, basically a quarter of a million people, affected by this devastating earthquake -- what are they living like? We know the temperatures get to freezing at night. Is there any source of drinkable water? Is that getting in? Do they have blankets? Do they have tents? What is needed right now?
NAJI: Food, shelter -- shelter, blankets, that kind of thing to begin with. Because, as you said, this is a desert town, and at night, it gets below freezing temperature here, and thousands of people spend the last two nights out in the open without much food or water.
I saw one scene today -- there was a pick-up truck that brought some aid, some bread, some loaves of bread, some blankets and some other things that I couldn't make out what they were actually boxes and thing. And as soon as it turned in a crowded area, it was besieged by people and it was basically robbed in less than a minute. Everything had been gone, because, basically a lot of people are hungry. They need water, they need food, they need blankets, they need shelter in this cold weather. And beyond that -- after that, of course you need medical supplies and other necessities. But for the moment, the most immediate things, bread and shelter - Sean.
CALLEBS: Kasra Naji, from Bam with the very latest information, we greatly appreciate it. Our hearts go out to them and we know the U.S. and 20 other nations are rushing supplies there as quickly as possible. Thanks again -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As you have probably heard, many of the homes in that region are made of mud brick, not the most stable building material.
Mohammad Ehsani is an Iranian American, a structural engineer and an expert on protecting buildings from earthquakes. Just a couple of years ago, he also visited Bam, the city in the quake's bullseye. He is joining us this morning by telephone.
Thanks for being with us, and I want to ask you quickly if I could -- because we already know and we've heard quite a bit about the mud brick, why in particular was this such a destructive quake? Many of those buildings are made of mud, but have been around for a very, very long time.
MOHAMMAD EHSANI, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Yes, good morning.
In buildings which are constructed with mud, as was the case in the case of this city, they do not appear to perform generally well in the case of earthquakes. Of course, the technology is currently there to construct earthquake-protected structures, but unfortunately, in many countries in that region, including Iran, these codes are not followed.
COLLINS: Hmm. And I know that you were in Bam just a few years ago. As a structural engineer, when you left that area, was it alarming to you? Did you feel like this was certainly a city at risk of a disaster?
EHSANI: Yes. Of course, you know, when one looks at all of these old buildings which do not have any reinforcing steel in them, it's just like a ticking bomb, and I think, just to put it in perspective for your viewers, for example, the 1989 Loma-Prieta Earthquake, which occurred near -- in northern California, was much stronger, with a magnitude of 7.1. In that earthquake, only 67 loss of life occurred, in comparison this one, which is a much weaker earthquake and we have now estimates of 30,000 to 40,000 casualties.
COLLINS: Wow. That is an unbelievable comparison there.
Any idea if, after this horrible, horrible tragedy, there might be a chance that the builders and the people in this country will comply then with stricter building code?
EHSANI: Well, you know, we certainly -- our hope and our fear is that in larger cities in Iran, such as Tehran for example, those structures are also -- are not constructed according to the latest codes and, of course, when you have a city of 12 million or 15 million, if something like this were to happen there, it would be quite tragic.
COLLINS: Just want to ask you -- as we've mentioned, you are an Iranian Iranian-American coming to us from Los Angeles, where many people of Iranian heritage live. How is the news being taken there, in the community that is?
EHSANI: Well, you know, everybody has been shocked by the news and, of course, many of the people, as you noted, have relatives who are there. I understand that there were some -- even in Iran, there were some campuses of universities that students were among the casualties and, of course, these students come from all parts of Iran. So it is a national tragedy for all of us.
COLLINS: Another interesting quick point I want to make before we let you go. As you have probably heard, Iran is allowing U.S. military flights in for humanitarian supplies, something that the current leadership has never before allowed.
You think, in your opinion, this might lead to any type of relationship between Iran -- between ran and the West?
EHSANI: Well, I certainly hope so, and as your viewers may recall, following the 9/11 tragedy, more -- you know, thousands of citizens of Tehran came to the streets and held a candlelight vigil for the victims of that event and I hope that -- I'm sure that Americans would return the -- you know, the favor at this point.
COLLINS: Mr. Mohammad Ehsani, we certainly appreciate your insight this morning, coming to us from Los Angeles. Thanks again.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
