Heavy rainfall that has hit southern Iraq since March 21, 2020 has resulted in devastating flash floods and landslides that have killed at least 12 people and injured 17 in several provinces. Extensive damage was reported, as well as power outages in several villages.
According to the Tasnim news agency, intense downpours in recent days have caused flash floods and flooding of rivers affecting the provinces of minced meat, Bushehr, Ormozgan, Kerman, Sistan and Baluchistan.
Rudbar-e Jonubi County, Kermam, SE #Iran
Seasonal rains have led to severe flooding due to a lack of infrastructure and years of environmental damage in the country.
According to Iranian officials, 11 people have died in the past 24 hrs in the floods in 4 cities.
- Iran News Wire (@IranNW) March 23, 2020
Other provinces were also affected by floods: the northern province of Gilan, Golestan, Kohgiluyeh, Boyer Ahmad in the west, and the central province of Qom.
Heavy flood in Bandar-e Deyr in Iran
- Farhang F. Namdar (@FarhangNamdar) March 22, 2020
In Bushehr province, several villages suffered from power outages, and landslides occurred between the cities of Rahak and Dir.
Our fellow citizens across 7 provinces in south-southeast & East of #Iran are struggling with flash #floods. At least 7 have died, roads washed out, power cut in dozens of villages and airlifting underway in remote areas. Half a town in south of #Kerman inundated.
- Fereshteh Sadeghi فرشته صادقی (@fresh_sadegh) March 23, 2020
If the #coronavirus wasn’t enough - #Iran is afflicted with heavy #floods at the #Bushehr region.
- Amir Tsarfati (@BeholdIsrael) March 22, 2020
On Monday, March 23, a spokesman for Iran's emergency medical service confirmed that the harsh weather claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 17 in the affected provinces. Two more remain missing.
Five of the dead were in a farce, and two were in Kangan in Bushehr.
Heavy flood in Bandar-e Kangan, Iran
It literally shovels everything!
- Farhang F. Namdar (@FarhangNamdar) March 23, 2020
Heavy rains prompted the authorities of some cities to declare a state of emergency and order the evacuation of the population.
In Sistan and Baluchistan, Governor Chabahar said the rains over a 24-hour period from Monday, March 23, resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure in the city, as well as in other urban and rural areas of the region.
بی کفایتی مدیران فاسد نظام ، بلای جان مردم است!
عبور خودورها از روی پلی در میناب که هر آن ممکن است سیل خرابش کند! # HumanRights #Iran
- مانيتورينگ حقوق بشر ایران (@Iran_HRM) March 23, 2020
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said rescue and rescue operations are underway in the affected areas. In addition, IRCS officers in Sistan and Baluchistan mobilized rescue forces using helicopters.
# طقس_شبوة
ماشاء الله سيل نوخان مديرية عتق
- طقس شبوة (@shabwahweather) March 22, 2020
On March 15, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanyan stated that after considering weather forecasts indicating that some parts of the country would be hit by heavy rains, preparatory measures were taken to resolve the situation.
سیل در # بوشهر دارد مردم را با خودش میبرد. این یک فاجعه انسانی است.کاش مردم از تمام مسیلها و مسیرها ی رودها دوری کنند. سیل ممکن است ناگهان به یک جاده یا روستا برسد.
- Azam Bahrami (@AzamBahrami) March 23, 2020
Noting the flash floods in 2019, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanyan said his ministry is making efforts to improve the working conditions of the dams.
〈 انجام نشده و حکومت هم در فکر کمک به سیلزدگان نیست.
مرگ بر خامنه ای و طرفدانان مزدورش # KhameneiVirus
- M: S (@ Ms79744326) March 23, 2020
"Currently, 40 percent of the 50 billion cubic meters (1.7 billion cubic feet) of the country's dams are empty, which means there is sufficient capacity to handle the spring floods."
