Nationwide floods in Iran have displaced tens of thousands of people and left dozens dead in the past two weeks. More rain is forecast in the coming days.
Heavy rain began in mid-March in the northeastern province of Golestan, which received 70 percent of its average annual rainfall in one day. The flooding has steadily spread across the nation, inundating communities in at least 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
“Iran is under water,” said Sayed Hashem, regional director of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. “The scale of this crisis means that more help is needed.”
Aid groups are warning that the situation could get worse if the rains continue. Train lines have been washed away and neighborhoods been submerged. Footage posted to social media showed raging floodwater sweeping cars from roadways and rivers bursting their banks, filled with muddy debris.
At least 70 people have been killed in the flooding, according to the most recent update from the Iranian Red Crescent, which has coordinated rescue and relief efforts. But aid groups have struggled to reach all of the affected areas.
Some residents have had to take to rooftops as they wait for rescue, their homes partially submerged. Aerial images showed waterlogged fields stretching as far as the eye could see.
“While the precise impact is still to be seen, it is already very clear that the floods have caused extensive damage and suffering in villages, cities and rural areas,” Mr. Hashem said.