<P dir=ltr align=left>North Tehran Facing Landslide Threat<BR></P>

North Tehran Facing Landslide Threat
  
   Geological Survey of Iran as well as the National Geosciences Database of Iran's experts have given different views about what caused last month's land- slide in Farahzad district of Tehran during which several buildings in the valley were damaged.
   Construction engineers blamed the steep slope of the Farahzad valley and the adjacent river, as well as second-rate construction techniques, penetration of water into the soil, recent precipitations and the substandard sewage system for the ground movements.
  
   Engineer Shahram Nasiri, in charge of natural disasters at the Geological Sciences National Database, told ISNA that the steep slope and the type of soil were responsible for the April 29 landslide in north Tehran, but stressed that the main reason was the movement of ground near the fault lines in northern Tehran. He warned against similar incidents in the affected area as well as other areas situated near the fault line. This means the danger zone, which according to some experts is only limited to areas near rivers, would be extended to include other parts of the capital, which are located near major fault lines.
   Nasiri noted, "Based on a new finding, Sahand and Sabalan towers to the west of Farahzad valley, slums in north Hesarak, Azad University in northern end of Tehran in Hesarak as well as Azadegan, Oloum Pezeshki and Baam-e Tehran residential areas have been built in the prohibited area near the fault line in the north and are under threat of landslides, should the fault line$ become active.
  
   There is an imminent danger of landslides within a radius of up to 5 kilometers around Farahzad valley. "
   The expert stressed that the study of data by Iconos satellite as well as fiel4 and laboratory studies revealed that the recent landslide was extended over an area of 36,400 sq.m. Which is part of an even greater landslide with a span of 245,940 sq.m., adding evacuating the adjacent buildings is the safest means to avoid any unpleasant consequences.