Iran holds large-scale earthquake drill

By Ahmet Dursun

ANKARA (AA) – Iran on Thursday held a comprehensive drill against a possible powerful earthquake in the capital Tehran.

Ali Nasiri, the chairman of the Tehran Crisis Prevention and Management Authority, said the air rescue drill aims at improving and coordinating the level of readiness for a possible magnitude 7 quake in Tehran.

“I hope this earthquake never happens, but we should be prepared for this possible situation since Tehran is located in a region of fault lines,” Nasiri said.

“Twenty-seven military, civilian, and aid and service organizations, especially the army, Revolutionary Guards army, police department, and fire brigade, participated in the exercise.”

The official also stated that a large number of helicopters, planes and unmanned aerial vehicles were used during the drill.

On Feb. 12, Tehran City Council President Mehdi Chamran warned that Iran might face a “disaster” in the case of an earthquake in Tehran.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.