Leader Urges Utmost Efforts to Help Flood-Hit People in Shiraz
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei expressed condolences to families of those who lost their lives in Monday’s flash flood in the southern city of Shiraz, calling for serious and prompt relief efforts for those affected.
In a message to the Friday prayers leader of Shiraz on Tuesday, the Leader said the “tragic incident of the devastating flood in Shiraz that led to the deaths of a number of dear people and caused families (to lose loved ones) during (Persian New Year holidays) made me mournful.”
Ayatollah Khamenei asked the Friday prayers leader to convey his message of condolences to the bereaved families and those injured in the flood.
The Leader also urged prompt and serious action to provide relief to those affected by the incident.
At least 19 people were killed and nearly 120 others injured in the flooding that hit Shiraz on Monday morning.
Emergency and rescue organizations are on full alert in different provinces of Iran as heavy rain is predicted to continue to fall in much of the country, especially in the western and southern regions.
Last week, heavy rainfall hit northern provinces of Mazandaran and Golestan. Rivers and other streams overflew their banks as a result, in turn flooding cities, towns, villages, and farming communities. Two dams also overflew in Golestan.
Over 56,000 people have been affected in at least 70 villages in Golestan and more than 200 in Mazandaran.
The flooding in those provinces has claimed the lives of at least five people and destroyed hundreds of homes over the past few days.
High water has forced evacuations of several small farm communities as all farmland has been swamped.