But the process has also raised fears of ground water contamination and is suspected of causing mild earthquakes.

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On August 11, strong earthquakes in northwest Iran destroyed and damaged hundreds of villages, causing the loss of many lives, leaving thousands without electricity, water, health care and other essential services.

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In many areas of the world, floods, cyclones, and earthquakes occur cyclically, regularly destroying buildings, homes, and schools and causing hundreds, even thousands, of deaths.

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The prosecutors insisted the case was not about predicting earthquakes, but rather was about whether the defendants had misrepresented the risk of a major quake, causing people to stay home who might otherwise have fled.

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