Iran's Army units on Monday succeeded in rescuing some 512 civilians trapped under debris in Baravat, a town near the city of Bam, three days after a strong earthquake.  

During search operations on Sunday the Army units could retrieve the bodies of 300 victims from under debris, Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

Together with international relief workers, hundreds of Army units equipped with modern facilities continue relief operations in the quake-stricken areas.

Baravat is located five kilometer from the city of Bam. Some 2,000 civilians have been reported dead in Baravat by this time.

Iranian and international rescuers have recovered and buried 25,000 bodies of the victims of Friday's strong earthquake and the death toll may reach 30,000 with the continuation of the search, said an Iranian official Monday.

A strong earth quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked Bam city in Iran's southeast province of Kerman on early Friday and destroyed 90 percent of the buildings in the ancient Silk Road city.

Provincial government spokesman Asadollah Iranmanesh said: "Many, many more people remain buried under the rubble, increasing fears of a much greater death toll at the end."

Hopes of finding more survivors faded as sunrise Monday marked 72 hours since the quake hit, entombing thousands of sleeping residents in their homes. Experts say 72 hours is generally the longest people can survive if they are trapped in rubble. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)