Iran: Flash flooding leaves 17 dead in Fars province as of March 25

Event

Heavy rainfall and consequent flash flooding have left at least 17 people dead and 74 others injured around Shiraz (Fars province) as of Monday, March 25. Provincial authorities claim that rescue workers have been dispatched to affected areas and that the flooding is under control but cautioned individuals to continue sheltering in their residences. Flooding is forecast to affect the provinces of Fars, Kurdistan, Qom, and Isfahan over the coming hours; Tehran may also experience flooding. Flooding has left one person dead in Sarpol-e Zahab (Kermanshah province) as of March 25.

Lingering transportation and business disruptions are to be expected in the affected provinces over the coming hours and days.

Context

This bout of flooding comes after flooding hit Mazandaran and Golestan provinces in recent days following heavy rain that inundated the provinces on March 19-20; over 56,000 people in the provinces have been affected.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, anticipate flooding and associated transportation and business disruptions, including road closures, and remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of moving water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater and chemical products; all items having come into contact with floodwater should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.