Severe weather in Iran claims 9 lives, injures 86
At least nine people died and 86 were injured in Iran due to severe storms in early May 2025, with significant damage reported in Karaj and Tehran.
Satellite image of northern Iran on May 4, 2025. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS
Iran faced severe convective storms with strong winds, heavy rain, dust, and frequent lightning from late April to early May 2025. The storms occurred between Sunday, April 27, and Monday, May 5, 2025, leading to 9 fatalities and 86 injuries nationwide. Five deaths were due to lightning strikes, and four resulted from falling debris caused by winds reaching speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph).
Tehran Province reported the highest impact, with 63 injuries, followed by South Khorasan (7), Kermanshah (4), Mazandaran (3), and other provinces, including Alborz and Qazvin. Fatalities were recorded in Tehran, Mazandaran, Lorestan, South Khorasan, Markazi, and East Azerbaijan. The storms affected 21 provinces, with urban centers like Tehran and Karaj among the hardest hit.
In Karaj, Alborz Province, a storm on Saturday night, May 3, caused 13 incidents, as reported by Mohammad Yasavoli, head of the Fire Department and Safety Services. Seven trees fell onto vehicles, an electric pole and billboards were toppled, a commercial unit’s roof collapsed, and a wall broke and fell onto a car. Traffic disruptions and accidents occurred due to obstructed roads and poor visibility.
Yasavoli noted that 26 firefighters and 13 emergency vehicles were dispatched to address the incidents in Karaj. He urged citizens to take meteorological warnings seriously and avoid the streets during storms. The Alborz Meteorological Office issued warnings for potential storms in the province over the next four days.
An M4.0 earthquake at a depth of 8 km (5 miles) struck Mahdasht in Karaj on May 3, the same night as the storm, increasing local concerns.
Tehran’s Emergency Medical Services, led by Mohammad Esmail Tavakkoli, went on full alert following an orange-level storm warning, stating, “All road and urban emergency bases are now on full alert, and the Emergency Operations Coordination Center is operating 24/7.”
The 115 emergency hotline capacity was increased to handle potential incidents. “In case of any incident, citizens can call 115 to receive uninterrupted emergency medical services,” Tavakkoli said. Power outages and internet disruptions were noted in Tehran’s southern areas, such as Shahr-e Rey.
Environmental impacts included flash flooding from clogged streets and a spike in dust, worsening air quality, while lightning strikes killed livestock in rural areas.
References:
1 Severe weather casualties in Iran rise to 9 dead, 86 injured – Iran Front Page – May 6, 2025
2 آمادهباش کامل اورژانس تهران در پی هشدار طوفان – جامعه خبری تحلیلی الف – May 7, 2025
3 جزئیات خسارات طوفان شنبه شب کرج اعلام شد/ خسارت به تعدادی خودرو – IRNA – May 5, 2025
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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