Warning Issued Over Flooding in Three Cities and Dozens of Villages in Khuzestan

The Khuzestan Water and Power Organization has warned of flooding in the cities and suburbs of Hoveyzeh, Susangerd, Darkhovin, Ahvaz, and Shush.

Meanwhile, reports have been published regarding flooding in some areas of Hoveyzeh County.

The Deputy Mayor of “Refayee,” a district of Hoveyzeh County, described the conditions of this city in terms of flooding as critical and said: “Refayee has once again been besieged by flooding and water is advancing toward the city.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Karun Dam is currently in critical condition.

It is said that the storage volume of this dam has now reached 5.1 billion cubic meters and has only 120 million cubic meters of empty capacity.

According to IRNA, the discharge of the Karun Dam on Thursday reached approximately 600 cubic meters per second, which according to the Water and Power Organization statement may increase to up to one thousand cubic meters per second.

The Khuzestan Water and Power Organization also warned of flooding in the Dez River basin.

The Khuzestan Water and Power Organization stated: “By monitoring the volume of water entering the Dez Dam reservoir over the next 48 hours, in a gradual and step-by-step manner, the discharge from the Dez Dam will reach 2,000 cubic meters per second, and the possibility of an increase in it is also likely.”

The statement added: “Since it is necessary, according to flood safety guidelines and regulations, the water discharge from the Dez Dam be increased and gradually reach more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the aforementioned increase in discharge will significantly increase the possibility of significant damage downstream of this dam.”

Rouhani’s Trip to Khuzestan

Reports indicate that Hassan Rouhani will travel to Khuzestan on Friday “to review the latest measures taken to combat flooding.”

An informed source in the presidential office said in this regard: “Given the conditions and weather changes in the country and including Khuzestan and the large rivers and dams in Khuzestan Province, it may be necessary that with the presence of the President, the complex that is active in the field of dam construction be balanced.”

This informed source added that this special trip by Hassan Rouhani is taking place at the request of the Minister of Energy and the Governor of Khuzestan.

Heavy rainfall and severe flooding over recent days in various parts of Iran have left dozens dead. On Thursday, it was announced that the death toll from recent weather events in Iran has reached 44 people.

Hamid Reza Khanke, Deputy Director of the National Emergency Organization in Crisis, stated: “21 people in Fars Province, 7 people in Golestan, 5 people in Mazandaran, 3 people in North Khorasan, 2 people in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, one person in Kermanshah, one person in Khuzestan, two people in Lorestan, one person in Hamadan, and one person in Semnan have died.”