Tehran faces 'major' earthquake threat, official warns
Shafaq News/ Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization has warned that the capital could experience a "major earthquake" with significant risks.
Ali Nasiri, the head of the organization, stated that "tectonic plates in the northern part of the capital could trigger a large earthquake, and due to their proximity to vulnerable areas, they pose an even greater risk,' adding, "The worst-case scenario Tehran could face is a 6.7 magnitude earthquake.'
"We hope it never happens."
Notably, Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world due to its position on the Alpine-Himalayan belt. The primary cause of earthquakes in the country is the pressure exerted by the Arabian plate on the Iranian plateau.
The Iranian capital is located on two major fault lines. While the northern fault is more active, the deteriorating and unsafe infrastructure in the southern part of the city makes an earthquake there pose an even greater threat to Tehran's residents.
History shows that, on average, a major earthquake (greater than 5.5 on the Richter scale) occurs in Tehran every 160 years. The country experiences occasional earthquakes of varying intensities, the most powerful of which was a 7.7 magnitude quake in northwestern Iran in 1990, killing 37,000 people and injuring 100,000 others.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Yemen to alert UN of states preparing to aid Israel
Shafaq News/ Yemen's Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat announced plans to notify the United Nations of observed preparations by some countries to assist Israel in its military campaign against Iran. In remarks to Yemen News Agency (SABA) on Saturday, al-Mashat stressed that his country's decision is rooted in humanitarian, religious, and legal principles, calling on Arab and Islamic nations to 'take a unified stand instead of waiting to be targeted one by one.' 'The flames of war will eventually reach every corner of the region if we don't act together to stop the campaign of domination led by arrogant powers.' Reiterating Yemen's position on US involvement, al-Mashat confirmed that Washington would gain nothing by joining Israel's assault except what he described as a deeper entanglement in the conflict. 'Everyone will see that clearly,' he said. He further warned that any actor complicit in the Israeli attack must bear the consequences, revealing plans to direct the Foreign Ministry to notify the United Nations of observed preparations by some member states to assist in the aggression against Iran. 'Yemen will confront any such involvement through all legitimate means.' Earlier Saturday, Yemen's Ansarallah (Houthis) threatened to strike US naval vessels in the Red Sea if Washington supports Tel Aviv, accusing both the US and Israel of pursuing regional domination under coordinated efforts. The warning comes as Israel's Operation Rising Lion continues to target Iranian nuclear and military sites, killing senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists, while Iran's response—True Promise 3—has so far unleashed 18 waves of missile and drone attacks across Israeli territory.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Unidentified flying object injures 5 children in Iraq's Salahaddin province
Also in Iraq Iraq monitoring social media amid regional tensions Electoral commission not affected by Supreme Court resignations Basra airport bustling with travelers amid regional flight ban Fired Basra airport director denies eavesdropping accusations A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Five children were injured in Iraq's Salahaddin province on Saturday when an unidentified object detonated, the Ministry of Interior said. Their injuries were all minor. 'Five children were injured in the al-Jamiah neighborhood in Dujail District... following the impact of an unidentified object, according to the explosives experts' report,' the Ministry of Interior stated. The injuries were caused by 'shrapnel from the object and flying gravel' blown into the air by the blast. Surveillance footage showed the children outside their homes when they were injured by the unidentified object. The children were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries and have all been discharged. The Kurdistan Region and Iraq lie under the flight path of Iranian drones and missiles aimed at Israel and over the past week there have been multiple reports of drones and debris falling from the sky, sometimes sparking fires.
Iraqi News
2 hours ago
- Iraqi News
US stealth bombers fly towards Middle East amid Iran-Israel war
Washington – US stealth bombers were flying Saturday across the Pacific Ocean, according to tracking data and media reports, fueling speculation over their intended mission as President Donald Trump considers joining Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear sites. Multiple B-2 bomber aircraft left a base in the central United States overnight and were later tracked flying off the California coast along with aerial refueling jets, The New York Times and specialist plane tracking sites reported. The B-2 is capable of carrying America's heaviest payloads, including the bunker-busting GBU-57, a 30,000-pound (13,607 kg) warhead capable of penetrating 200 feet (61 meters) underground before exploding. Such a bomb, which Israel is not known to possess, is the only weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities. When reached for comment, the Pentagon referred AFP to the White House, which did not immediately respond. Trump, who rarely spends weekends in Washington, is due to return to the White House on Saturday evening to hold an unspecified 'National Security Meeting.' The president said Friday that Iran had a 'maximum' of two weeks to avoid possible US air strikes, indicating he could take a decision before the fortnight deadline he had announced a day earlier.
