Iran: Flash floods kill 20 in Estahban province

By Haydar Sahin

TEHRAN (AA & Agencies): At least 20 people were killed and three others went missing in flash floods caused by heavy rains in Iran’s southern Fars province, state media said on Saturday.

Khalil Abdolahi, head of the province’s crisis management department, said heavy rains near Soltan Shahbaz village in the city of Estahban led to the flooding from the Rodbal Dam, according to IRNA news agency.

Heavy rains swelled the Roudbal river by the city of Estahban, said its governor Yousef Karegar.

Karegar said rescue teams had saved 55 people who were trapped by the flash flooding, but at least six people were still missing.

Kargar, said “around 5:00 pm yesterday, heavy rains… in the central parts of Estahban County led to flooding,” according to state news agency IRNA.

Estahban is 174 kilometres (108 miles) east of the provincial capital Shiraz.

Iran has endured repeated droughts over the past decade, but also regular floods, a phenomenon made worse when torrential rain falls on sun-baked earth.

Provincial Red Crescent head Huseyin Dervishi said search and rescue efforts are ongoing with 22 teams and 125 people in the field.At least 51 households have been affected, and aid would be delivered to the flood victims, he added.

[Map of Iran from CIA Factbook/Public Domain]

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