Tehran Crisis Management Director: 3.9 Magnitude Earthquake in Damavand Not a Threat to Tehran

The Director General of Crisis Management in Tehran Province stated that the epicenter of the 3.9 magnitude earthquake felt in Damavand County on Saturday evening is located 60 kilometers away from the capital and poses no threat to Tehran. Around 19:45 on Saturday, October 23, an earthquake measuring 3.9 struck Damavand County in eastern Tehran Province, and reports from ISNA quoting the Director General indicate that there were no casualties or financial damages. Hadi Rahmati also mentioned to ISNA that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 11 kilometers, and residents of Damavand felt the tremor. He added that emergency and service agencies in eastern Tehran Province, including the Red Crescent, municipality, and water and electricity organizations, are on a 'relative standby'. According to the Director General, the situation in Damavand County is currently normal and no problems have been reported. In response to a question regarding the possibility of an earthquake in Tehran following this tremor, he stated that the epicenter of this earthquake is more than 60 kilometers from the capital, and this earthquake has no connection to Tehran. He emphasized that it cannot be said that the Damavand earthquake poses a danger to Tehran or could activate Tehran's faults. The northern fault of Tehran in the Tajrish area, the northern and southern faults of Shahr-e Rey, and the Kahrizak fault in southern Tehran are considered the most important and main faults in the Tehran area. However, experts have noted that in assessing the risk of potential earthquakes, the role of faults within the city has been less considered. Regarding Tehran, experts have warned about the population living in dilapidated areas, as they believe a 6 magnitude earthquake could destroy residential buildings in these areas. Approximately one and a half million people in Tehran live in dilapidated neighborhoods. In this context, the housing research center's risk assessment section has warned about the exacerbation of land subsidence in Tehran, the identification of 'large and hidden' faults within the city, and the occurrence of 17 earthquakes in four provinces of Iran 'without casualties'. In the dilapidated areas of Tehran, the lives of 'one and a half million' people are at risk.