By Atoyebi Nike
As Israel’s aerial assault on Iran continues into its fifth day, thousands of residents have begun fleeing Tehran, seeking refuge in the Caspian Sea province of Mazandaran, where officials are scrambling to accommodate the growing wave of displaced people.
Many evacuees are heading to Shomal, a popular northern holiday region, in what has become an arduous exodus from the embattled capital. One evacuee told CNN it took over 14 hours to reach Shomal—a journey that would normally last just three hours.
“Everyone left Tehran, basically everyone I know has left the city,” the individual said.
“They bombed my house, my street yesterday. All the windows have turned to powder. The lobby of the building is gone.”
In response to the growing humanitarian need, Mazandaran’s governor announced that bakeries across the province will operate 24 hours a day starting Wednesday to meet food demands.
“Our goal is for the people to be able to easily and without worry get fresh, warm bread at any time of the day or night when they need it,” the governor stated, according to Mehr News Agency.
The governor added that Mazandaran has the capacity to receive up to 10 million evacuees from Tehran and surrounding areas, as the conflict intensifies and civilian infrastructure in the capital suffers widespread damage.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a dramatic warning via social media on Monday, urging residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately in light of the escalating hostilities.
Israel has defended its air campaign as a preemptive strike against Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions—a claim Tehran has strongly denied. The offensive has drawn international concern and triggered calls for urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent a broader regional war.
