Iran – Hundreds Displaced as Severe Weather Hits

Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has carried out rescues and evacuations after a period of severe including heavy rain, snowfall and cold temperatures that has swept the country since last week.

IRC reported that it has pumped flood water from 95 residential buildings. Over 300 people have been given emergency shelter. In mountainous areas roads have been blocked and IRC have recovered 283 vehicles from the snow.

IRC said relief supplies have been distributed among the affected people in provinces of Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Zanjan, Semnan, Fars, Ghazvin, Qom, Golestan, Gilan, Lorestan, Mazandaran and Hormozgan.

From initial reports it is not clear which areas have been affected by flooding, however heavy rain was reported in Gilan, Bushehr, Mazandaran and Hormozgan provinces.

Bandar-e Anzali, a city of Gilan Province in northern Iran recorded 118mm of rain in 24 hours to 19 November, according to WMO figures. Babolsar in Mazandaran Province, recorded 66.6mm of rain in 24 hours to 21 November.

The country has endured a spate of flash floods over the last 2 months. Northern provinces saw deadly floods hit in mid-October and again in early November. Flooding hit southern provinces in early October.