Residents of Tehran Attempting to Flee the Capital, Heavy Traffic on Roads
Numerous residents of Tehran are fleeing the capital, which is under Israeli strikes, creating massive congestion on the main road leading north, according to footage shared today on social media.
Videos whose authenticity has been confirmed by AFP (Agence France-Presse) show, from an overpass, a huge line of vehicles at a standstill on the highway at Tehran’s northern exit, while almost no vehicles are seen traveling in the opposite direction.
Airspace has been closed until further notice, and the road is currently the only way to leave Tehran, which is under intense bombardment.
Israel has urged citizens to stay away from all military infrastructure, but security forces are present throughout the city, including residential neighborhoods.
The traffic jam appears to be concentrated on Highway 49, which connects Tehran to Chalus on the Caspian Sea, according to video footage released by Iran International, a Persian-language TV station based abroad, as reported by prominent Iranian bloggers.
Chalus, located in Mazandaran Province, is 150 kilometers north of the capital, and even under normal conditions, the mountainous drive takes about three hours.
Social media has also shown videos of long lines at gas stations.
On June 13, Israel launched a massive attack on Iran, targeting hundreds of military and nuclear sites with the stated aim of preventing the country from developing a nuclear bomb – according to Danas.rs.
At least 224 people were killed and over a thousand injured in Iran during the Israeli strikes, according to the official toll released on Sunday.
In Iranian missile strikes launched in response to Israel, 24 people have been reported killed since Friday, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
