Bam (Iran): The massive earthquake, which rocked Iran's historic southeastern fort city of Bam and its surrounding district yesterday (Dec 26, 2003) has so far claimed at least 20,000 people and injured more than 50,000 people, sources said.

Earlier, the Governor of Kerman province, in which Bam is located, put the toll at between 5,000 and 6,000, while state media gave the injured toll as 30,000.

The tremor, which struck before dawn, as most of the area's residents were asleep, was met with a swift response from the international community pledging immediate and long-term aid.

Bam, which has a population of 90,000 people, is built almost entirely of mud brick and is ill equipped to withstand a big tremor, sources said.

The district was home to some 200,000 residents.

Bereaved residents wandered the streets of Bam pleading for the authorities to speed up rescue efforts.

Field hospitals were set up as the city's two hospitals were destroyed in the earthquake. However, they were overwhelmed by the magnitude of casualties.

Meanwhile, the international community swung into action to provide relief for Iran's earthquake victims, with rescue teams, medical supplies ready to move.

The International Red Cross in Geneva said it was making an appeal for $ eight million.

The United Nations (UN) said it had sent a team to the scene of the disaster to coordinate rescue operations and was making $ 90,000 available immediately for the disaster, which claimed at least 15,000 lives, according to official sources.

The United States also offered aid, sources said.