Relief operations underway in 13 flood-hit provinces of Iran

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has undertaken large-scale relief operations in 13 provinces across Iran affected by ongoing flooding, which has so far claimed the lives of seven people.

Hossein Darvishi with the society’s Relief and Rescue Organization said flooding had, until Friday, affected the western provinces of East Azerbaijan, Ilam, Kordestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh-and-Boyer-Ahmad, Hamedan, Qazvin, Chaharmahal-and-Bakhtiari, as well as Zanjan and Gilan provinces in the north, and Fars Province in central Iran.

He said 100 cities and villages had been stricken with severe flooding in those provinces, adding that more than 7,000 people have been provided with relief aid so far.

The official said, “Unfortunately, seven of our compatriots lost their lives in the provinces of Ilam, Lorestan and Kermanshah, and another has gone missing in (Ilam’s) Dehloran County.”

On Friday, Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Baqer Nobakht and Hossein Fereydoun, who is President Hassan Rouhani’s special aide, arrived in Ilam to assess the situation in the flood-hit areas.

Rainfall in the affected areas is expected to continue on Saturday, according to forecasts.

Back in July, at least 11 people were killed, 30 injured, and 12 others went missing as a result of flash floods in 10 Iranian provinces.