Even as Iran projects calm during the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, authorities are preparing for the grim possibility of a disaster that could leave thousands dead.
According to German newspaper Die Welt, Iranian officials have drawn up emergency plans anticipating anywhere between 1,500 and 3,000 fatalities during the days-long funeral processions, which are expected to attract millions of mourners.The report says officials have created a dedicated unit to deal with potential deaths and missing persons, while thousands of fresh graves have been readied at Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.
A Tehran municipality employee, whose identity was concealed for security reasons, told the newspaper that the preparations were real.
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