Iran Press/Iran news: After New alerts issued as heavy rains and flood continue across the country, President Hassan Rouhani called on the interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli and the governors of the western and southern provinces on Monday to use all the equipment and facilities for saving the lives of people who are facing floods.
Rouhani stressed on using all communication and technical capacities to issue timely warnings and raise awareness on heavy rains and the likelihood of flooding and spillovers, particularly in river banks and downstream of dams, as well as river floods, Iran Press reported.
Heavy rains, which triggered raging torrents of water in 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces on March 19, have so far claimed the lives of as many as 45 people across Iran and destroyed over 25,000 homes around the country.
A state of emergency has been declared in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan amid threats of fresh flooding; the declaration of emergency had been approved by the interior minister.
Five major rivers lay across the oil-rich province, multiplying the threat of flooding. According to reports, 55 villages lying close to these rivers have been evacuated.
Army to help flood-hit people
Commander of Iran’s Army Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi said the Army will stand by the people in the flood-hit regions with all its capabilities and equipment until the damages are repaired.
He noted that the army has been active in such areas since the beginning of the floods by dispatching all the facilities and equipment and has contributed to the degradation of the water in those areas.
Morteza Salimi, the head of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), said Monday morning that 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, Kordestan, Fars, Northern Khorasan, Kermanshah, Khouzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad as well as Sistan and Baluchestan.
It was reported on Monday morning that fresh floods are expected in at least nine provinces.
A city in the western Iranian province of Lorestan was under water Monday as parts of the country continued to be battered by the flood.
Strong rain and powerful winds are also expected to lash several cities on Monday and Tuesday after a new storm system moved into western Iran on Sunday, according to Iran's Meteorological Organization (IMRO).
IMRO has also warned eleven provinces to brace for strong rainstorms and the possible overflowing of rivers. 101/205
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Photo: Heavy rainfall and severe flood in Khuzestan Province
