Ali Javdaneh, the head of Iran’s national mapping organization, has raised alarm over the escalating issue of ground subsidence affecting urban areas across the country.
“The images of cracked roads and collapsed streets are just the surface manifestations of deeper geological processes that might not be immediately apparent,” Javdaneh explained, recent scientific assessments showing that subsidence is not merely an above-ground occurrence but happens deep within the earth.
He says the phenomenon, often underestimated in its impact, “could pose challenges even at minimal rates such as two centimeters per year”, with approximately 380 cities and 9,200 villages throughout Iran under threat.
The ancient archaeological site of Naqsh-e Rostam in Iran’s Fars Province also faces imminent danger. The site, which houses the tombs of prominent Achaemenid kings like Darius the Great and Xerxes, has seen extensive damage due to recent heavy rainfall exacerbating the subsidence. Fissures as deep as 70 centimeters have been reported near the historical monuments, threatening their stability.
The broader implications of subsidence are severe, potentially leading to a depletion of water resources, reduced agricultural outputs, and transformation of fertile lands into barren deserts. The phenomenon has worsened over the past five years, with the affected area in Iran reportedly tripling in size. The situation is so precarious that even a minor earthquake could trigger significant disasters, especially in areas like Isfahan, which supports a population of over 2.7 million.
