Iran faces unprecedented drought as water crisis hits Tehran
13 days ago
- #Iran
- #water-crisis
- #drought
- Iran, especially Tehran, is experiencing an unprecedented drought with record low rainfall and nearly empty reservoirs.
- President Masoud Pezeshkian warns of potential water rationing and even evacuation of Tehran if the crisis worsens.
- Criticism arises from former officials and the public, dismissing evacuation as impractical.
- Tehran's main water sources, Latian and Karaj Dams, are at less than 10% capacity, with unusable 'dead water'.
- Residents report severe water shortages, resorting to buying bottled water for basic needs.
- Government considers water cuts and penalties for excessive consumption amid bleak rainfall forecasts.
- Causes include aging infrastructure and war damage, with Israel's strike exacerbating leaks in Tehran.
- Drought extends beyond Tehran, affecting provinces like West Azerbaijan and Mashhad, where dam levels are critically low.
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has long warned of water shortages, yet little action has been taken.
- Over 16 million people in Tehran, Karaj, and Mashhad face the risk of taps running dry.