Iran faces unprecedented drought as water crisis hits Tehran

[corbe]

Iran faces unprecedented drought as water crisis hits Tehran

2 hours ago
Parham Ghobadi
BBC Persian

Iran - especially its capital, Tehran - is facing an unprecedented drought this autumn, with rainfall at record lows and reservoirs nearly empty. Officials are pleading with citizens to conserve water as the crisis deepens.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that if there is not enough rainfall soon, Tehran's water supply could be rationed. But he said that even rationing might not be enough to prevent a disaster.

"If rationing doesn't work," Pezeshkian said, "we may have to evacuate Tehran."

His comments have prompted criticism in Iranian newspapers and on social media. Former Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi called the idea "a joke" and said "evacuating Tehran makes no sense at all".

Iran's meteorological officials say no rainfall is expected over the next 10 days.

Meanwhile, the water crisis is already affecting daily life in the capital.

"I'm planning to buy water tankers to use for toilets and other necessities," a woman in Tehran told BBC Persian.

In the summer, Iranian rapper Vafa Ahmadpoor posted a video on social media showing a kitchen faucet with no running water.

"It's been four or five hours," he said. "I've bought bottled water just to be able to go to the toilet."

Dams nearly empty

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4p2yzmem0o

[PeteS in CA]

Tehran's (the city) water problems have been building for at least a couple of decades. Their population has been growing while the aquifers supplying the city are being depleted.