Iran on Monday revised down the number killed when an earthquake flattened the ancient Silk Road city of Bam in December to 26,271 from 41,000, saying many victims were counted several times in the ensuing chaos.
Iran's Statistics Office said a census had been conducted to determine the exact number killed when the quake struck Bam before dawn on December 26, demolishing most of its mud-brick houses. It said 525 people were still missing.