Deadly flash flood in Iran claims 11 lives

Heavy rains that battered Iran over September 17 and 18, 2015, have triggered deadly flash floods across 13 of the country's 32 provinces. 

As of September 20, at least 11 people have been reported dead in the provinces of Tehran and Hormozgan.

6 people have been reported dead in the city of Pakdasht, southeast of Tehran, as heavy rains caused a river to overflow its banks on September 18. More victims of the raging waters were reported later on the same day in Hormozgan province.

Flash floods events are fairly common across Iran. During July 2015, strong flooding affected 10 provinces in northern and western Iran, while earlier in March, severe flooding across the provinces of Hormozgan, Kerman and Sistan-Baluchestan claimed 3 lives and destroyed about 900 homes, according to Floodlist.

The rising frequency of flash flood event occurrence in Iran is most likely due to deforestation and improper building work near river beds, the Associated Press reports.

Over the next 48 hours the flooding situation is expected to ease, as no further heavy rainfall is forecasted across the country.

Elena Ugrin

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