Media reports on Iran’s land subsidence crisis indicate that 56,000 square kilometers of the country’s landmass is at risk of subsidence. Within this area, eight airports, 54 railway stations, 25 metro stations, and 14 million people are vulnerable to the effects of ground subsidence.
The state-affiliated website Didban Iran described the issue in a report, stating: “A monster called subsidence is devouring Iran.”
The author of the report attempts to provide a clear picture of what is happening across Iran’s geography and outlines the dangers. According to an official report provided to Didban Iran by the Iranian Department of Environment, “Currently, 256 out of 429 cities in Iran are affected by land subsidence.”
The report emphasizes that eight counties in Iran have experienced subsidence over an area exceeding 1,000 square kilometers.
A section of the report highlights the impact of subsidence on infrastructure, stating: “Metro lines, highways, main roads, railway tracks, and truck routes are among the infrastructures at risk of damage from land subsidence.”
According to the report, approximately 15% of railway lines, equivalent to 1,380 kilometers, are affected by subsidence. Additionally, eight major and mid-sized airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, which serves over 8 million passengers annually, along with Isfahan and Urmia international airports, as well as Kerman, Gorgan, and Shahr-e Kord airports, are at risk of infrastructure damage due to subsidence.
14 Million People Severely Affected by Land Subsidence in Iran
The report highlights that approximately 14 million people—one-fifth of Iran’s current population—are affected by severe land subsidence.
The Iranian Department of Environment report also states that over 3,000 square kilometers of land in the country is experiencing subsidence of more than 10 centimeters per year, with some areas sinking by up to 35 centimeters annually.
Reports indicate that, contrary to public belief, subsidence has also affected Iran’s northern and lush provinces.
In this regard, Ali Baitollahi, an Iranian geologist and expert on geological hazards, warned about the “consequences of excessive groundwater extraction in Mazandaran Province” in recent years, reporting significant land subsidence in the eastern part of the province.
Similarly, the state-affiliated newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad reported on January 3 that, based on the latest analyses by Iran’s National Cartographic Center, 4,100 square kilometers in eastern Mazandaran—including some urban areas—are now affected by land subsidence.
On December 13, 2024, Donyaye Eghtesad newspaper reported, “Cracks in Isfahan’s historical structures not only signal an impending disaster for Iran’s ancient heritage and history but also warn of an ecological catastrophe in the country. This disaster threatens the very survival of life in Iran’s central plateau.”
In October 2024, the spokesperson for Iran’s water industry stated that 422 plains across the country are facing land subsidence crises due to excessive groundwater extraction.
In October 2024, the spokesperson for Iran’s water industry stated that 422 plains across the country have been classified as either restricted or critically restricted due to excessive water extraction. Additionally, 359 plains are facing the risk of land subsidence.
According to several critical experts, misguided policies, lack of proper planning, and mismanagement by the Islamic Republic in the water sector are key factors contributing to land subsidence and the environmental crisis in Iran.
