Unprecedented torrential rainfall in the past few days in several provinces, including Tehran, Alborz, Markazi, Isfahan, Fars, Hormozgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Yazd and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, has filled 50% of Iranian dams, director general of the National Water Database said.
“The volume of water inflow into Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan dams has been 70 million cubic meters and 120 mcm respectively over the last week,” Firouz Qasemzadeh was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
Dams in Tehran and Khuzestan provinces are also getting full and measures have been taken to minimize the adverse effects of potential floods, he added.
The official noted that since the beginning of the new water year (started September 2021), close to 29 billion cubic meters of water have entered dams across Iran, up 5% compared with the same period of a year ago.
Dams across Iran can hold a maximum of 50 billion cubic meters of water.
According to the official, the higher precipitation will curb water tension facing Iran for more than a decade, though it has so far killed more than 60 people and inflicted human and material damage in several towns and villages, especially in the southern regions.
Heavy rainfall began last week, overflowing rivers, washing away bridges, inundating houses and destroying infrastructure.
Flash floods triggered by heavy rain hit the southern province of Fars last Saturday, killing at least 21 and leaving several people missing, the head of the region’s Crisis Management Department, Rahim Azadi, said.
Rescue teams dispatched to the scene saved the lives of 55 from certain death.
“Following floods in the counties of Estahban, Darab and Neiriz, several citizens lost their lives,” he added.
Tourists and locals had camped in arid riverbanks on the weekend when the sudden floods struck the area. At least 15 cars were submerged.
Cut Off Utilities
Flooding cut off gas, electricity and water supply in many regions and damages to gas, power and water networks have not been estimated yet.
Hundreds of people have been displaced and many are in dire need of food, water, tents and blankets.
Five cities in the province of Tehran were badly damaged by floodwater on Thursday night. The most damage was suffered by residents of Imamzadeh Davoud shrine (northwest Tehran) and Damavand and Firouzkouh where 30 died from landslides, many are still missing and hundreds have been evacuated from the area.
Across the country, roads have been blocked by floodwaters and many villages reported mudslides that damaged houses.
Search and rescue teams are making efforts to find those still missing and families of victims have been notified to identify their kith and kin.
Qasemzadeh has warned against camping in or near riverbanks, as well as in mountainous areas.
Heavy rains are expected to continue and temperatures are forecast to drop in the province of Tehran over the next three days.
Iran is not the only country in the region affected by heavier-than-usual monsoon rains this summer. Asian nations from India to Pakistan, the UAE and Qatar have reported destruction and fatalities from heavy rainfall over the past week.
The monsoon season usually lasts from July to September.
