TEHRAN, Iran, March 26 (NNN-IRNA) – At least 25 people were killed in the heavy rains and subsequent floods in Iran, over the past week.
On Monday, flash flood in the southern city of Shiraz killed 17 and injured 94 others, Pir-Hossein Koulivand, chief of Emergency Organisation of Iran, was quoted as saying.
Among the victims were six men, seven women and four teenagers, Koulivand added.
The flood in Shiraz inflicted financial damage on the city’s markets, including the Vakil Bazaar, which is registered as a national heritage, Press TV reported.
Flash floods and thunderstorms also hit other Iranian southwestern and western provinces on Monday. Some areas in the southwestern province of Khuzestan witnessed more than a month of rainfall in a few hours.
According to local officials in Khuzestan, the overflow of rivers claimed the lives of two children.
Tasnim news agency reported that, the floods in northern Iranian provinces have claimed the lives of at least five people and destroyed hundreds of homes over the past few days.
Hassan Razavi, managing director of the Regional Water Company of Tehran, warned of heavy rainfall and inundation of provincial rivers in the coming days, Press TV reported.
“According to an announcement by Iran’s Meteorological Organisation, heavy precipitation and subsequent flood are possible, along the path of rivers and flood channels across the province,” Razavi was quoted as saying.
The official also warned vacationists against erecting their tents around and on the bed of rivers, saying, travellers should not stop to watch or shoot the flooding.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Department of Tehran’s international Mehrabad Airport said in a statement that, some scheduled flights were cancelled or postponed because of foul weather conditions.
The cancellation of flights will continue until stable weather conditions are restored, the statement added.
Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has put all officials in all Iranian provinces on full alert, as widespread flooding continues in many parts of the country.
Rouhani also called on provincial officials to coordinate necessary preparations, to handle various issues facing people in the flood-hit areas.– NNN-IRNA
