Sewage overflow in Ahvaz and dust rises in eastern Iran

The flood has reached the entrance to Ahvaz. The road from Ahvaz to Andimeshk has been blocked due to flooding. Schools in a number of provinces, including Lorestan and Golestan, have been closed. UNESCO has called on Iranian officials to report.

Flooding continues to dominate domestic news in Iran. Large areas of Khuzestan province are under water, while there is talk of increased rainfall in the coming days.

On Monday, April 8, Mehr News Agency reported that water will be released from the Karkheh Dam. This will inundate larger parts of Khuzestan.

In addition, it is said that water has reached the entrance to the city of Ahvaz, and the risk of water entering the city threatens the people.

On the other hand, flooding is also progressing in the regions of Khorramshahr, Kianshahr, and Zardasht. In the city of Ahvaz, rising sewage levels have caused the northern parts of the city to experience flooding of roads.

The head of the Khuzestan provincial traffic police has announced the closure of the Ahvaz-Shush highway. In this regard, all vehicles, including private cars, have been banned from the aforementioned highway.

The collapse of the Sheiban flood dam has also led to water rushing over the railway bridges towards Ahvaz.

Heavy rains continue

At the same time, the Iranian Meteorological Organization has announced an increase in rainfall in the eastern half of Iran, especially in the northeast of the country. It is expected that due to the intensity of rainfall in Khorasan, Razavi and South Khorasan, as well as in Golestan province, many roads will be blocked due to flooding.

In addition, IRNA news agency has reported intensified rainfall in Yazd, east of Isfahan, west of Kerman, and south of Fars. The situation in some other parts of Iran has also been reported to be critical.

For example, the Iranian Meteorological Department has announced that due to strong winds, there is a possibility of dust rising in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan and also Kerman.

The risk of schools collapsing in flooded areas

The situation in schools in Lorestan and Golestan provinces has been reported to be very dire. The special representative of the Minister of Education in Lorestan province has warned that no one should enter schools and has warned of the possibility of school buildings collapsing in flooded areas.

The amount of damage to schools in Golestan province has been reported to be around 26 billion Tomans. It has been said that to advance the education of students, housing has been sent to the flooded areas. The number of damaged schools in Golestan province has been reported to be 300.

While exact figures on the extent of damage to schools in Lorestan province have not yet been released, officials say at least 81 schools in the province have been completely destroyed by the floods. More than 120 other schools in the province have also lost their educational equipment and facilities, and about 550 schools need to be repaired before they can be used again by students.

UNESCO and historical monuments

Iran's cultural heritage has also been seriously damaged by the floods. The Iranian student news agency, ISNA, reported on Monday, April 9, that Iran's cultural heritage has suffered heavy damage. Initial estimates say the damage is estimated at 300 billion tomans.