Iran: Flash flooding across 25 provinces leaves over 40 dead as of March 28 /update 1

Event

Heavy rains and consequent flash flooding have left at least 43 people dead across 25 provinces as of Thursday, March 28. The main affected areas include the provinces of Golestan, Fars, Kurdistan, Qom, and Isfahan. Authorities warned the weather system is currently shifting to the east of the country and weather services have warned that heavy rainfall is likely in those areas as early as Saturday, March 30. Rescue workers have been dispatched to 30 provinces. Authorities sent warning text messages to the population and state television broadcasted safety tips.

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, before reaching the south and the west of the country.

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.