Heavy rains and flash floods kill at least 23 in Iran

TEHRAN – At least 23 people lost their lives after major floods and heavy rains swamp much of the parts in Iran. Floods have also left more than two hundred people injured or missing besides causing damages in Fars, Mazandaran, Kirmanshah and Golestan provinces. The latest deluge claimed the lives of 19 people and injured 98 in the worst-hit southern city of Shiraz, the rescue services said. There was also one death in each of the western provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan and Kogiluyeh-Va-Boyerahmad, and another in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. The disaster, which the energy minister blamed on climate change, struck in the middle of Iranian New Year holidays, with many relief workers on vacation and millions of Iranians on the roads. On Tuesday the authorities sent out emergency warnings to the public on mobile phones as state television aired safety tips, including on how to leave cars stuck in floods. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 25,000 had to be put up in emergency accommodation. The country’s National Crisis Management Committee was put on its highest alert level as at least 20 of Iran s 31 provinces experiencing floods or facing an imminent threat and more than 250 cities and villages needing emergency assistance.