Half a century ago, on September 15, 1975, a new chapter began in Iran’s medical and social history with the opening of the Tehran Emergency Information Center, which operated through two telephone lines—669991 and 669921. What started as a modest initiative to coordinate rescue operations in the capital city has, over five decades, grown into a nationwide network known today as the National Emergency Organization or Emergency 115. Its creation was not only a medical innovation but also a civilizational milestone that placed Iran among the pioneers of pre-hospital emergency medicine in the world.
The Tragic Catalyst: Mehrabad Airport Ceiling Collapse
The story begins with tragedy. On December 14, 1974, the giant clock in the waiting room of Mehrabad Airport showed 14:50 when a section of the ceiling suddenly collapsed. The catastrophe claimed the lives of 16 people and injured 11 others. The Ettelaat newspaper, which would later report extensively on Tehran’s emergency readiness, covered the event in detail. The official investigation concluded that structural damage caused by vibrations from jet engines on the runway had weakened the ceiling, leading to its collapse.
