Amir Mohsen Ziaei, the head of the Red Crescent Society, has described Tehran as a city situated on a 'time bomb' and stated that the residents must understand that an earthquake will eventually occur in the city. According to a report on Wednesday, February 7, by Nasim Online news agency, Ziaei mentioned in a meeting of the Red Crescent's deputy council that the purpose of this explicit warning is to increase the 'resilience' of the people and society. He noted that an earthquake threatens Tehran and that this could lead to a 'serious crisis for the country,' which requires a 'logical fear' to confront. This official added that 'resilience means returning to the initial state and creating a safe and resilient community, which is a costly, ongoing, and time-consuming task,' and considering the Red Crescent's budget, achieving such a state is 'difficult.' Many experts have repeatedly warned in recent years about the inevitability of a devastating earthquake in Tehran and expressed concern over the wave of damages and losses that it could cause. In the latest warning, Youssef Bozorgnia, head of the Seismological Research Center at Berkeley University, deemed the occurrence of this earthquake 'certain' and stated that millions of citizens living in 'unsafe' homes are vulnerable to this event. The existence of dilapidated structures in the southern regions of Tehran, which house a significant population, is one of the major concerns of experts and officials in the city. Reports of several minor earthquakes in Tehran and its surrounding areas in the past five months have revived discussions about the large earthquake in Tehran, for which no timeline has been set. In 2012, Bahram Akasheh, known as the father of seismology in Iran, stated that Tehran 'has the potential for an earthquake of eight magnitude.' According to reports, 10,000 earthquakes are recorded annually in Iran; one of the deadliest occurred in 2003 in Kerman, resulting in the deaths of at least 26,000 people. The head of the Red Crescent also mentioned that given the potential extensive damages from an earthquake in Tehran, 'the level of public attention to upcoming events and crises must be increased in a logical and correct manner.'
Red Crescent Chief: Tehran is on a 'Time Bomb'
Amir Mohsen Ziaei, head of the Red Crescent Society, warns that Tehran is at risk of a significant earthquake, urging residents to prepare for potential crises. Experts have long predicted a devastating quake, highlighting the vulnerability of many citizens living in unsafe buildings. This issue is critical for public safety and disaster preparedness in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Amir Mohsen Ziaei warned that Tehran is at high risk of a significant earthquake, urging residents to prepare for potential crises. Experts have long predicted such an event, emphasizing the vulnerability of many citizens living in unsafe buildings.
- Tehran is considered to be on a 'time bomb' due to its seismic activity.
- Experts have recorded 10,000 earthquakes annually in Iran, with a significant risk of a devastating quake in Tehran.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran is located in a seismically active region, making earthquakes a persistent threat. Tehran's infrastructure, particularly in older neighborhoods, is often inadequate to withstand significant seismic events.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%