The number of casualties in the flash floods caused by torrential rains that started on Wednesday across 136 of Iran’s western and southwestern cities, has risen to 5 from an earlier reported count of four. One person is missing, news outlets said on Saturday. “Three of the victims were from Dehloran city, Ilam Province; one in the provincial capital of Ilam, and one in Andika city in Khuzestan Province,” said Seyed Morteza Mostafavi, spokesperson for the Iranian Red Crescent Society, ISNA reported. Flash floods washed away cars and blocked roads between several cities and villages in 12 provinces by Friday night, damaged bridges, overwhelmed dams, and cut drinking water supplies in the affected areas. By Saturday morning, over 7,000 people were given emergency services by the relief and rescue teams and nearly 2,500 among more than 70,000 affected were given emergency shelter. The extent of the damage is not clear yet, but the flooding is estimated to have caused severe damage, particularly to agriculture and livestock.
