Heavy rains have battered Iran’s northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran, leaving homes flooded and others without power.

Iran Press/Iran news: The heavy rain which started on Sunday in Mazandaran province has passed through Golestan province and has now reached Northern Khorasan.

The governor of Northern Khorasan reported that 15000 people are affected by the flood, Iran Daily reported.

The head of Iran’s crisis management organization reported that 40 villages in Golestan province still have no electricity. Previously the minister of energy had reported that 360 villages in Golestan province and 193 villages in Mazandaran province had lost electricity.

In Mazandaran province, after six days of flood, according to the crisis management office, over 200 villages were flooded and 1500 residents saw between 30 to 50 percent damage. Many bridges in rural areas were also destroyed.

A picture taken on March 22, 2019 shows underway relief efforts after severe flooding in the northern Iranian province of Gilan. (Photo by Tasnim)

Footage from both provinces showed massive flows of water running over roads and streets, with cars being washed away, people struggling to walk, and traffic being disrupted.

On Sunday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani ordered Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli to mobilize all means in the affected and neighboring provinces to provide immediate relief aid to people. 103

This photo by Fars news agency shows Aqqala in Golestan province inundated by flood waters.