1m Distressed Houses

There are over one million housing units in the capital’s distressed areas in Tehran, said head of the Roads and Urban Development Ministry’s Research Center. “A relatively strong earthquake can cause more than 800,000 casualties in the four riskiest districts of the city including Districts 10, 12, 16 and 21,” said Mohammad Shekarchizadeh, IRNA reported. From among 63,000 housing units in District 21 (on the western fringes), around 21,000 are unauthorized and have been built without permits making the district highly vulnerable in the event of natural hazards.