- (AFP) -- Iran raised the death toll for the December
26 earthquake in the southeastern city of Bam to 41,000, with a close aide
to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying the final figure could
hit 45,000, state media reported.
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- "In this incident, up until now 41,000 of the people
of Bam have been killed, and there is a possibility that this could increase
to 45,000. This is a great catastrophe," Mohammad Mohammadi-Gholpayghani
was quoted as saying by the news agency IRNA.
-
- The official heads the office of the supreme leader,
who on Friday made his second visit to the quake-devastated city to inspect
recovery and relief operations.
-
- Previous official estimates had put the death toll at
between 30,000 and 35,000, although recovery crews in Bam have continued
to pull out bodies as they work to clear away the rubble from the city,
80 percent of which was flattened by the quake.
-
- The city had close to 100,000 residents, according to
official figures.
-
- Khamenei's office also pledged that reconstruction work
would be accelerated.
-
- And a senior provincial official said police and intelligence
staff were also engaged in cracking down on "opportunists" who
swarmed the city to steal some of the massive amounts of aid supplies --
especially tents -- that poured into the city from across the country
-
- "All officials have to give their full attention
to Bam. Their efforts so far deserve recognition, and these efforts should
be accelerated. The leader says Bam must be rebuilt, so his orders must
materialise," Mohammadi-Gholpayghani was quoted as saying.
-
- Mehdi Jahangiri, deputy governor-general in charge of
planning for Kerman province, said the reconstruction of the city would
take two years.
-
- "Bam is going to be rebuilt in the same place. This
decision was made by the reconstruction of Bam committee" set up by
President Mohammad Khatami, Jahangiri told IRNA.
-
- "Based on this decision, the reconstruction operation
in Bam would take two years. The private sector has also been invited,
but under the supervision of the government. Private companies from Iran
and outside Iran can participate in reconstruction through tenders,"
he said.
-
- The official also said a tough security operation was
underway.
-
- "The police and intelligence service have started
the task of identifying opportunists," he said. "Since Wednesday
more than 100 tents have been seized back from these people, and this trend
is increasing.
-
- "A great number of locals are cooperating to identify
these opportunists," he added. "There is a probability we may
give them a 24 hour deadline, and after that we will deal with them seriously."
-
- According to IRNA, some 10,000 people unaffected by the
quake have descended on Bam, posing as survivors and seeking to get their
hands on tents, blankets and free food.
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