WANA (May 13) – The coincidence of a 4.6-magnitude earthquake east of Tehran with a powerful storm in the Iranian capital fueled speculation about possible links to explosions or unusual fault activity. But Iranian seismic officials say the quake was part of the region’s normal tectonic activity and showed no signs of anything unusual.

 

A series of earthquakes struck eastern Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Tuesday night, prompting widespread speculation on social media after the tremors coincided with a strong storm that swept through the city. Some online claims suggested the quake could have been linked to explosions, military activity, or abnormal movement along Tehran’s fault lines.

 

However, Ali Beitollahi, one of Iran’s best-known earthquake and seismic risk experts, dismissed those claims, saying the event was entirely natural and occurred in one of the most seismically active zones around the Iranian capital.

 

According to Beitollahi, the first tremor, measuring magnitude 3.4, struck at 8:41 p.m. local time east of Tehran, around 40 kilometers from the city center and roughly 8 kilometers north of the city of Pardis. Over the following seven hours, a total of eight earthquakes of varying magnitudes were recorded in the area.

 

He said the main quake occurred at 11:46 p.m. with a magnitude of 4.6, followed by six aftershocks at intervals of 10 to 20 minutes. The final aftershock, measuring magnitude 3.1, was recorded around 3:30 a.m.

 

Beitollahi explained that the earthquakes originated near the village of Ira, at the junction of two major fault lines — the North Tehran Fault and the Mosha Fault — an area geologists consider one of the most active seismic zones east of the capital.

 

He added that the affected region includes more than 100 villages as well as the towns of Pardis, Bumehen, Rudehen, Abali, and Lavasanat, with a combined urban and rural population of around 250,000 people.

 

4.6-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Tehran

WANA (May 13) – A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck the border area between Tehran and Mazandaran provinces moments ago, with tremors felt across several parts of the capital and nearby cities.   According to local reports, the quake was felt in northern and southeastern areas of Tehran, including Pardis, Varamin, Pakdasht, and parts of Shemiranat. Residents […]

Read More...

 

The Iranian official warned that a significant portion of buildings in the area remain vulnerable to major earthquakes. According to him, around 30 percent of rural homes and 15 percent of urban buildings in the region lack proper structural frameworks and could suffer serious damage in stronger quakes.

 

Beitollahi also rejected rumors linking the earthquake to explosions or human activity, saying the quakes originated at depths of 10 to 20 kilometers below the surface. Even extremely powerful explosions, he said, only affect shallow underground layers and cannot generate seismic events of this kind.

 

The earthquakes also coincided with a storm in Tehran, where wind speeds reportedly reached around 55 kilometers per hour. But Beitollahi stressed there is no scientific connection between weather events and seismic activity, describing the timing as purely coincidental.

 

He also downplayed the likelihood of a larger earthquake following the 4.6-magnitude event, saying the pattern of aftershocks suggests the 4.6 quake was most likely the main seismic event.

 

Still, he noted that smaller aftershocks may continue in the coming hours or days until seismic conditions in the area stabilize.

 

According to Beitollahi, eastern Tehran has experienced more than 800 small and moderate earthquakes over the past 15 years, underscoring that seismic activity around the Iranian capital is a continuous and natural phenomenon rather than an unusual or externally driven event.

 

He concluded by emphasizing the need to improve construction standards and reinforce buildings in this seismically sensitive region, while also urging residents to remain calm and follow proper safety measures during earthquakes.