TEHRAN, Iran, April 6 (NNN-ISNA) – Floods sweeping most parts of Iran over the past weeks have caused a loss of 470 million U.S. dollars, to the country’s agriculture and infrastructure, Financial Tribune daily reported on Friday.
The agricultural sector suffered a loss of 350 million dollars, and damage to roads caused the rest of the loss.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crisis Management and Hazard Reduction Department, farms and agricultural products in 16 provinces saw heavy damage.
About 49 percent of the overall damage to the agriculture sector was inflicted on farming, 22 percent on water and soil resources, 16 percent on horticulture, and 13 percent on livestock, poultry and fishery sectors, he added.
Head of the Iranian Nomadic Affairs Organisation, Karamali Qandali, also said nomads have lost nearly 15,000 livestock, during the recent floods, according to the daily.
Meanwhile, about 12,000-km-long roads in the vicinity of rivers or water bodies have been damaged by submersion or landslides.
“Over 400 bridges have been totally destroyed and around 5,000 bridges have incurred partial damage,” said Shaban-Ali Khavari, an official with Road Maintenance and Transportation Organisation of Iran.
Unprecedented floods across Iran over the past weeks have also claimed the lives of at least 70 people, official IRNA news agency reported on Friday.– NNN-ISNA
