The head of the Earthquake Prediction Center at the Seismology Research Institute has warned against the construction of a new sports stadium in Tehran, located in an area on the 'earthquake line' and facing 'land subsidence'. Mehdi Zare, a PhD graduate in 'Engineering Seismology' from the University of Grenoble in France, wrote in today's issue of the 'Etemad' newspaper: 'Since early October 2023, news about the construction of a new stadium for Tehran has been circulating in the public domain.' He continued: 'It has recently been determined that this stadium is to be built in the city of Aftab in southern Tehran.' Concerns about a potential earthquake in the Iranian capital come as Ali Nasiri, head of the Tehran Disaster Prevention and Management Organization, stated on October 20 that estimates regarding earthquake casualties are 'classified' and that 'in the event of an earthquake in Tehran, people will have to fend for themselves for up to three days.' Mehdi Zare noted that according to international standards, a land subsidence rate of more than 4 millimeters per year is considered a 'crisis', while this rate in southern Tehran has been measured at about '10 to 20 centimeters' per year. Urban land subsidence leads to power outages, gas pipe ruptures, rail deformation, sinkhole formation, building tilting, and the emergence of cracks and potholes on roads. The head of the Earthquake Prediction Center emphasized that 'seismic data' along with new findings on the 'potential amplification of seismic waves' in the Rey and southern Tehran areas indicate that constructing new structures and facilities in the Aftab area 'will be in a hazardous location and will increase the existing risks in Tehran.' Ali Bitahli, head of the Engineering Seismology and Risk Assessment Department at the Road, Housing, and Urban Development Research Center, criticized the 'poor quality' of construction in Iran on September 8, stating that with a 7-magnitude earthquake, about 60% of buildings would be destroyed. In this context, Ahmad Shahroodi, a housing expert, recently told Voice of America that an earthquake in Tehran could be due to the age of urban development and catastrophic mismanagement. Why does the government fear the presence of spectators in stadiums? Response from Mohammad Reza Faghani. New claim by Mehdi Taj: The Supreme National Security Council approved women's entry into stadiums.
Seismologist Warns: New Stadium Location in Tehran is on 'Earthquake Line'
A seismologist has raised alarms about the construction of a new stadium in Tehran, citing its location on an earthquake fault line and significant land subsidence. This warning comes amid concerns about the city's preparedness for potential earthquakes, with officials indicating that residents may need to rely on themselves in the aftermath. The situation highlights ongoing issues with urban planning and construction standards in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A seismologist has warned against building a new stadium in Tehran due to its location on an earthquake fault line and significant land subsidence. This warning raises concerns about the city's preparedness for potential earthquakes and the quality of urban planning.
- The land subsidence rate in southern Tehran is measured at 10 to 20 centimeters per year, which is significantly above the crisis threshold.
- Officials have indicated that residents may need to rely on themselves for up to three days following an earthquake.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran is prone to earthquakes due to its geological features, and urban planning has often been criticized for inadequate safety measures.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%