Iranian authorities have ordered mass evacuations in flood-hit Aqqala county, Golestan Province in the north of the country, amid fears of more flooding as a result of rising water levels in both rivers and dams.

Iran Press/Iran news:  With a reservoir capacity of 120 million cubic meters, the vast embankment dam has been taking in large amounts of floodwater over the past few weeks, and is currently operating at full capacity.

The major dam in the province, Voshmgir, is also releasing increasing amounts of water to prepare for heavy torrents that officials say would soon submerge large parts of the province before heading to the main rivers and eventually reaching the dam, Iran Press reported.

Dozens of small towns and villages along rivers had already been evacuated as a precaution.

Heavy floods have affected at least 23 of the country’s 31 provinces since heavy downpours began on March 19.

Major floods have been reported in the provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, Gilan, Kurdistan, Ilam, Lorestan, Fars, Northern Khorasan, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad as well as Sistan and Balouchestan.

Most flood damage has been reported in Lorestan province, which is also said to have suffered the second highest number of casualties after Fars Province.

Police have asked people to avoid travelling to flooded cities in western and southwestern Iran. 101/211/202

Read More:

The world longest sand bag flood control barrier made in Iran's Khuzestan

 Artworks exhibition held in Isfahan to support flood victims

Popular aid for flood hit victims surpassed one thousand billion rial