Seven Dead and 14 Missing Following Flood in Ken; Death Toll Expected to Rise
The Tehran Red Crescent announced the possibility of an increase in the number of victims and missing persons as the seventh body of the Ken flood in Tehran was found on Thursday morning, the sixth day of Mordad.
According to the Fars News Agency, Morteza Moradipour, deputy head of the Red Crescent Organization, reported by Thursday noon that the death toll from the Ken flood (Imam Zadeh Davoud) stood at seven people, with 14 missing and 9 injured.
Search and rescue operations continue simultaneously to find more victims, and according to officials, there is a possibility that these numbers will increase in the coming hours.
Qodratollah Mohammadi, head of Tehran’s Fire Department, told ISNA news agency that while there is no precise estimate of the missing persons and financial damages from the recent flood, shops, merchants, and commercial units in the area have suffered severe losses.
A spokesperson for the National Emergency Organization had previously announced that following heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening, flooding entered the Imam Zadeh Davoud area in western Tehran from 2 a.m. onwards, causing landslides.
As speculation continues about a possible increase in casualties from the Imam Zadeh Davoud flood, rescue teams warned residents about the possibility of increased rainfall on Thursday evening and urged them to immediately evacuate their homes.
Meanwhile, the head of the Red Crescent Society announced the transfer of 1,000 residents from the Ken area to safe zones. Mehr News Agency reported that these individuals have been accommodated in “crisis shelters.”
Earlier, Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior, who visited the flood-affected areas on Thursday morning, reported that the depth of mud and silt in some areas was three to four meters.
Given the continuation and increase of rainfall in Tehran, some parks in western Tehran areas will be closed on Thursday. The mayor of District 5 announced that two parks, “Javaanmardan” and “Kohsar,” will be closed from 4 p.m. until further notice.
Adel Mosadegh, deputy director of the Tehran Province Roads Department, while announcing an “orange” weather alert for heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding and inundation in Tehran Province, asked citizens to stay away from rivers.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that some routes leading to Tehran, including Haraz, Karaj-Chalus, and Imam Zadeh Davoud, will be closed until further notice.
Beyond western Tehran areas, eastern parts of the capital have not been spared from the consequences of Wednesday evening’s flood. According to reports, following heavy rainfall overnight in Damavand County, the overflow of the “Siyah Rud” (Black River) in Rudehen has caused flooding, inundation, and extensive financial damages in the area.
Meanwhile, Reza Taherkhani, governor of Damavand, reported the death of one citizen in this area and damage to a large number of livestock and vehicles.
Source: Radio Farda
