Subsidence Crisis Leads To Evacuation Of More Schools In Iran

A subsidence crisis has led to several more schools being evacuated in Esfahan and others under close supervision.

According to the government, 285 schools have been either evacuated or put under urgent monitoring, and schools in Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Yazd, Fars, and Qazvin, are now also on alert.

Majid Abdollahi, the Technical and Supervision Deputy of the National Organization for School Renovation, Development, and Equipment, told ILNA news agency that "out of the dozens of affected schools in Esfahan, 14 have been closely monitored, and some have been evacuated."

In August, Hamidreza Khan-Mohammadi, the head of the organization, announced the evacuation of several schools in Esfahan due to land subsidence. Abdollahi acknowledged that while Esfahan faces the most significant challenge regarding subsidence, some isolated cases have also surfaced in Tehran.

Documents received by Iran International in May unveiled that the Islamic Republic deliberately concealed information about the worsening subsidence crisis from the public. Provinces with the highest populations, such as Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, and Esfahan, are at the forefront of the risk of land subsidence. Assessments indicate that the situation in the metropolitan area of Esfahan is notably critical compared to other cities in the country.

According to statistics from 2017, an estimated 4.2 million residential units in subsidence-prone areas lack proper structural frameworks, heightening the risk for residents.

On December 30, the ISNA news agency reported that 359 plains have experienced subsidence, while 420 plains witnessed a drop in elevation. The report highlighted an alarming annual subsidence rate of 45 to 50 centimeters in Iran, underlining the urgency of addressing the multifaceted challenge.