Monday, November 25, 2002 - 2002 IranMania.com

TEHRAN, Nov 25 (AFP) - Iran's sprawling capital is likely to be hit by a massive earthquake measuring more than seven on the Richter scale within the next 10 years, an expert was quoted as saying Monday.

"The probability of a quake over seven degrees on the Richter scale in the next 10 years currently stands at 65 percent and is expected to increase with time," seismographic expert Mohsen Ghafouri Ashtiyani told state news agency

Referring to the poor quality of buildings in Tehran, which has seen a decade of anarchic construction, he said: "The only way to tackle the consequences of an earthquake and reduce the risk is to strengthen existing buildings."

Experts have long warned that the Iranian capital is ill-prepared for a major quake, even though the city is criss-crossed by several faultlines and the country suffers almost daily jolts.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2002