Sewage Overflow in Ahvaz and Dust Storms in Eastern Iran

Floods have reached the entrance to Ahvaz. The Ahvaz to Andimeshk route has been blocked due to flooding. Schools in several provinces, including Lorestan and Golestan, have been closed. UNESCO has requested Iranian officials to submit a report.

News related to flooding continues to dominate Iran’s domestic news. Vast areas of Khuzestan Province have been submerged. This comes as predictions suggest increased rainfall in the coming days.

Mehr News Agency reported on Monday, April 8, that water had been released from the Karun Dam. As a result, more extensive areas of Khuzestan will be flooded.

Furthermore, water has reportedly reached the entrance to Ahvaz city, and the threat of water entering the city poses a danger to residents.

Meanwhile, flooding in the areas of Khorramshahr, Kianshahr, and Zoroaster continues to advance. In Ahvaz city, sewage overflow has caused northern sections of the city to face street flooding.

The head of the highway police of Khuzestan Province announced that the Ahvaz-Shush axis has been blocked. In this regard, the passage of all vehicles, including private cars, on the aforementioned route has been prohibited.

The collapse of the Shiban flood barrier has also accelerated water flow along the railroad bridge routes toward Ahvaz.

Continuation of Heavy Rainfall

Simultaneously, Iran’s Meteorological Organization has reported increased precipitation in the eastern half of Iran, particularly in the northeast. It is predicted that due to the intensity of rainfall in Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Golestan Province, many routes will be blocked by flooding.

Furthermore, IRNA news agency has reported intensified precipitation in Yazd, eastern Isfahan, western Kerman, and southern Fars. Conditions in several other parts of Iran have also been reported as critical.

For example, Iran’s Meteorological Administration announced that due to strong winds, there is a possibility of dust storms in Sistan and Baluchestan and Kerman provinces.

Danger of School Collapse in Flood-Affected Areas

The situation of schools in Lorestan and Golestan provinces has been reported as very severe. The special representative of the Minister of Education in Lorestan Province warned that no one should enter school buildings and reported the possibility of school building collapse in flood-affected areas.

The amount of damage to schools in Golestan Province has been reported at approximately 26 billion tomans. It has been stated that prefabricated units have been sent to flood-affected areas to continue students’ education. The number of damaged schools in Golestan Province has been reported as 300.

Meanwhile, precise statistics on the extent of damage to schools in Lorestan Province have not yet been released. Officials stated that at least 81 schools in the province have been completely destroyed due to flooding. More than 120 other schools in the province have also lost their educational equipment and facilities, and approximately 550 schools require repairs before students can return.

UNESCO and Historical Monuments

Iran’s cultural heritage has also suffered serious damage from flooding. ISNA, the Iranian Students News Agency, reported on Monday, April 8, on the severe damage to Iran’s cultural heritage. The damage is reported to amount to approximately 300 billion tomans based on preliminary assessments.