Rereading the 1990 Rudbar-Manjil Earthquake Recovery Based on the Oral History

Subject Areas : Built Environment

Mahsa Bashiri ^{1 *} , Ameneh Karimian ² , Seyed Amirhossein Garakani ³ , Mitra Hashemi ⁴ , Farnaz Garousi ⁵

1 - Assistant professor, post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation research group, Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Tehran, Iran.
2 - Researcher, post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation research group, Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of Architecture, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Researcher, post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation research group, Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Tehran, Iran.
5 - Researcher, post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation research group, Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2025-07-19 Accepted : 2025-10-01 Published : 2025-10-09

Keywords: oral history, recovery, reconstruction, disaster, earthquake, Iran,

Abstract :

Known as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, Iran is constantly impacted by natural hazards causing extreme socio-economic damage. Studying previous experiences provides beneficial insights and guidance for future crisis management. Authorities and affected communities have their own perspective and narration of the event, resulting in valuable lessons that have often been gained at great expense. Over time, with the loss of these people or by fading their memories, this knowledge and these experiences will be lost. This paper presents the findings of a research project on the documentation of the oral history of the 1990 Rudbar-Manjil Earthquake recovery based on interviews with the people involved in the event. The research highlights the value of recording the oral history of disasters and has several key points including the importance of coordination between organizations and the allocation of roles among responsible entities and institutions in all stages of crisis management prior to the disaster. The research also stresses the need for further evaluation of the use of core housing in the temporary settlement and its development for permanent housing, as well as the key role of community engagement and the use of traditional knowledge and practices in reconstruction and recovery.

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