An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 on the Richter scale was recorded in the capital of Iran today at 14:52 local time, MEHR reports.
The head of the Red Crescent Organization of Iran Mahmoud Muzaffer said the epicenter of earthquake was in the Pakdesht region in 31 km from the capital. According to him, information on destruction and casualties were not reported. The representatives of the Organization were sent to the villages that are located closest to the epicenter.
Previously, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke of the need for eviction of five million people from the city because of the danger of earthquake in Tehran.
He said that more than 13 million 700,000 people live in Tehran province and should be prepared for a possible earthquake.
"The probability of an earthquake in Tehran should be kept under severe control.
It is necessary to keep training to be prepared for this natural disaster. Readiness of all agencies, must be tested," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran's capital city Tehran is located in a seismic zone, so earlier proposals were made to remove the capital. Strong earthquakes often take place in Iran. The strongest earthquake in recent period occurred in December 2003 in the city of Bam, located in the southeast of Kirman province. The earthquake killed 31,000 people, destroyed ancient fortress, built of clay.
The most devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.7 on the Richter scale occurred in Iran in 1990. It killed 37,000 people in the provinces of Gilan and Zanjan. More than 100,000 people were injured.