Heavy rain and flooding in Iran’s Khuzestan reach alarming level

Times News Service

TEHRAN: Heavy downpours and massive flooding in most parts of Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan have reached an alarming level, according to local news reports.

Volume of major water reservoirs and rivers have critically increased, causing authorities to evacuate more people residential areas adjacent to dams and rivers.

The water volume in Karun, Iran’s major river, has increased to an alarming level of 3,200 cubic meters per second, local media reported Tuesday. Besides, Karkheh Dam, a large multi-purpose dam built on the Karkheh River, has been filled to the maximum level of its capacity, said Gholamreza Shariati, governor of Khuzestan.

Habitats in the towns of Soosangerd, Bostan and Hamidiya and some villages are at the risk of facing river overflows and dam outpours.

Women, children and the elderly in those areas have been relocated despite some resistance to leave homes.

Shariati has said the young men can stay in their towns or villages to help the rescue and relief operators protect their homes and cities against the floods.

The unprecedented rains over the past weeks in the province have damaged the infrastructures, including the roads and bridges, and incurred millions of U.S. dollars of losses to the agricultural sector.

At least 70 people have been killed and hundreds of others injured since intense rains started to hit some 21 provinces in the north, west and southwest of Iran three weeks ago.