Quake Damages Kerman Historical Structures

The recent earthquake in Kouhbanan County, Kerman Province, has inflicted serious damage to at least 26 historical monuments, a senior heritage official said.

On Thursday night, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Kouhbanan, causing considerable damage to both residential and historical structures.

Speaking to Mehr News Agency, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, cultural heritage deputy at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said initial investigations have revealed damage ranging from 20-50% to the historical sites in the stricken area.

"Soon after the earthquake shook Kouhbandan, experts from the protection unit at ICHHTO were deployed to inspect the damage," he said.

Reportedly, Deh-Ali water reservoir, the historical texture of Toghrol Al Jerd District, Afzar, Sangi, Chamah, Asadollah and Ratak historical towers, Alikhan Bazaar, Takhteh Amir, Hamam Chah, Al-e Taha, Shahidzadeh, Attarpour and Khajeh Khezr mansions, Soltan, Dokhtar and Deh-Ali castles, Kashani School and Old Jame' Mosque, are among sites estimated to have been damaged by up to 50%.

Talebian noted that field surveys are still underway and the precise estimate of the extent of damage is not possible until the final report is presented by the team.

However, Mohsen Rouhi, the head of provincial ICHHTO, has estimated the damage to be 70%, saying that at least 25 billion rials ($600,000) are required for restoration.

"Destruction is likely to continue, as aftershocks are still jolting the region," he said.

Kouhbandan is home to over 250 historical sites, including  mills, tombs, towers, castles, bathhouses, mosques, water reservoirs, prehistoric stone carvings and rock houses, most of which is inscribed on the National Heritage List.