Authorities ordered the evacuation of six more cities in Khuzestan province after more rain sparked fears of new flooding. Heavy rains since March have caused the worst flooding in 100 years across two-thirds of Iran.
Image: AFP/Iranian Presidency/HO
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On Saturday, Iranian officials said six cities along the Karkheh River in the southwestern province of Khuzestan "must be evacuated as soon as possible."
Fresh downpours have swelled the river's upstream, raising fears about new flooding in the area. Heavy rain in Khuzestan has been forecast for Saturday.
Gholamreza Shariati, the provincial governor, told state media that rescue teams were taking residents to safer places.
Shariati said emergency discharges from dams were intensifying floods, but added that the measures were essential to prevent the reservoirs from overflowing.
Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told state TV that more than 400,000 people were at risk in the province.
Flooding has killed at least 70 people in Iran since March.
Countrywide flooding
It has been more than two weeks since storms unleashed flooding and landslides across 24 Iranian provinces, or about two-thirds of the country. It is the most widespread flooding in Iran in nearly 100 years.
The first wave of flooding struck two days before Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Severe rainfall in the northwestern province of Golestan on March 18 led to flash floods that killed at least 17 people. The small provincial city of Aqqala was submerged, and 20 villages in the province were surrounded by water.
After the flooding began in the north of Iran, rains continued across the west and south of the country. Floods inundated the northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, the southern province of Fars, and the oil-rich province of Khuzestan. Authorities issued travel warnings for Iranians across the country.
Floodwaters also raged in Lorestan province. According to Iran's Red Crescent, the provincial city of Pol-e-Dokhtar was in a state of "super crisis." On Monday, media reported the water level had reached 1.5 meters (5 feet) and the provincial governor said that authorities had "lost all contact" with the city.
Floods kill dozens, inundate vast swathes of Iran
Heavy rains since March have caused the worst flooding in 100 years across two-thirds of Iran. Local media report that more than 60 people have died, and some Iranian's say authorities have "mismanaged" the crisis.
Image: UGC
Two weeks of rain
On Wednesday, the death toll of the floods in Iran increased to 62, with nearly 500 people injured. It has been longer than two weeks since storms unleashed flooding and landslides across 24 provinces, or about two-thirds of the country. It is thought to be the worst flooding in nearly 100 years, in terms of the extent.
Image: Irna
Flooding strikes during a holiday
The first wave of the flooding struck two days before Norouz, the Persian New Year. Many Iranians celebrate and travel during this time. Severe rainfall in the northwestern province of Golestan on March 18 led to flash floods that killed at least 17 people. The small provincial city of Aqqala was submerged and 20 villages in the province were surrounded by water.
Image: M. E. Zadeh
A nationwide disaster
After the flooding began in the north of Iran, rains continued across the west and south of the country. Floods inundated the northwestern province of Azarbaijan, the southern province of Fars, and the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan. Authorities issued travel warnings for Iranians across the country.
Image: Irna
Travel chaos
Videos of cars being piled up by the floodwaters and people fleeing to rooftops or utility poles waiting to be rescued went viral on social media. The images caused outrage over what Iranians are calling "mismanagement" of the disaster. Authorities issued travel warnings across the country. Collapsed bridges and damaged dams have led to many major routes being blocked.
Image: Mehrnews
Rural Iranians hit hard
Iranian state media on Tuesday reported that residents of 70 villages in southwestern Khuzestan province had been ordered to evacuate. Rural people have reportedly been resisting evacuation because they fear losing their livestock. Roads to thousands of villages, along with electricity and communication, are reported to have been cut off by the flooding.
Image: meshreghnews
A town under water
Floodwaters rage in Lorestan province. According to Iran's Red Crescent, the provincial city of Pol-e-Dokhtar is in a state of "super crisis." On Monday, local media reported the water level had reached 1.5 meters (5 feet) and the provincial governor said that authorities had "lost all contact" with the city.
Image: Irna
Iran blames the US
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Twitter that US sanctions were impeding aid efforts, accusing US President Trump of "economic terrorism" by preventing Iran from acquiring equipment like relief choppers. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the "Iranian regime's mismanagement" led to the disaster. Pompeo also said that the US was "ready to contribute" to relief efforts.
