Flash floods leave dozens dead in Iran

Tehran, Aug 2 (EPA-EFE).- At least 76 people have died and 16 are missing in Iran amid flash floods following days of heavy rain, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said Tuesday.

So far, 24 provinces have been affected by the rain and 1,386 villages have been flooded. The Red Crescent has provided relief services to over 61,000 people affected by the floods since last week, the NGO said.

Mehdi Valipour, Head of the IRCS Relief and Rescue Organization, said the organization had transported 3,017 people to safe areas and provided emergency shelter to more than 8,500 people.

The floods have blocked several highways in the country and have damaged buildings and homes in various cities.

The historic city of Yazd in central Iran, well known for its textile industry and exquisite Persian architecture, has also been damaged by the flash floods.

Mehran Fatemi, governor of the city, told state television reporters that damage in the UNESCO world heritage site was “small” and that repair work had already begun.

This is the second time this summer that Iran has been affected by heavy rains, following deadly floods in the southwestern Fars province on 22 July where 22 people died. EFE

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