Death and injury toll rises in surprise Shiraz flood

The Director General of Forecasting and Early Warning of the Meteorological Organization warned of flooding in the southern provinces of the country. Meanwhile, the death toll from the devastating flood in Shiraz has reached 19. Many have also been injured in the incident.

According to Iranian news agencies, with the increase in rainfall in the southern provinces of the country, the possibility of flooding in wider areas has increased. A large number of Nowruz passenger cars in Shiraz have also been hit by the raging flood waves.

Following heavy rain that began in the morning of Monday, March 25, in Fars Province, torrential flooding occurred around noon in the area of ​​the Quran Gate, Abu Kalam Square, Haft Tanan, and the roads leading to these areas.

Pirhasan Kolivand, head of Iran's emergency services, announced in an interview with Tasnim that 19 people have lost their lives in Shiraz so far. The flood has also left 94 injured.

" The water channel was not completely open ."

Ali al-Qasi, the head of the Fars provincial judiciary, said on Monday evening that Monday's flood incident is under special investigation by the judiciary. He noted: "What has been determined in the initial investigations is that the river leading to the Quran Gate, according to the information received, was not dredged and the water channel was not completely open, which is what caused the deadly flood caused by the rainfall in the surrounding mountains."

According to IRNA, the Chief Justice of Fars Province also emphasized: "Despite the fact that the Meteorological Organization had issued the necessary warnings about heavy rainfall a week ago, the municipal authorities have not taken into account the forecast and the necessary preventive measures regarding dredging the river adjacent to the Quran Gate and controlling the flooding caused by the rainfall."

According to Ali Al-Qasi, this issue will be "investigated by the judicial system and, after taking expert measures, the guilty officials and trustees will be dealt with decisively."

200 cars collide in Shiraz

Due to heavy rainfall in Shiraz, there was a severe disruption in vehicle traffic at the entrance to the Quran Gate. According to ISNA, more than 200 cars of citizens and Nowruz travelers have collided with each other. Hossein Darvishi, CEO of the Fars Province Red Crescent Society, announced that various elements of this society are on full alert throughout Fars Province.

Inayatollah Rahimi, the governor of Fars, also said: "This flood started in less than 10 minutes from the heights of Tang Allah Akbar and swept away moving vehicles at the entrance to the city of Shiraz and at the Quran Gate."

Haidar Ali Kamyab, the director general of sports and youth in Fars, announced that due to the severity of the floods and the declaration of a state of emergency, the doors of all sports halls in Fars province, especially Shiraz, have been opened to receive Nowruz guests. He said: "All managers of the city's sports and youth departments have been warned about the current situation and instructions have been issued, and efforts are being made to accommodate as many travelers as possible in the facilities."

Crisis Committee Meeting

According to Iranian news agencies, the Fars Provincial Crisis Committee will be convened in the governor's office in the late hours of Monday, chaired by the governor of Fars and with the presence of the Minister of Information. The meeting will examine the situation in Shiraz after the floods.

Ali Al-Qasi, the Chief Justice of Fars Province, stated that today's incident is under special investigation by the judicial system, saying: "After the incident occurred, a judicial case was immediately filed at the Shiraz Prosecutor's Office to investigate the causes and dimensions of the incident, upon the order of the provincial prosecutor."

He also clarified that the issue of Monday's flood incident in Shiraz is under special investigation by the judicial system.

" The city administration did not have a plan to prevent the crisis ."

According to ISNA, the representative of the people of Shiraz in the Islamic Consultative Assembly also stated that the authorities should seek a solution to alleviate the suffering of the people, saying: "Unfortunately, these incidents showed that the city administration did not have a plan to prevent the crisis and develop infrastructure."

According to Bahram Parsai, the infrastructure is not ready to prevent the crisis, and flooding and flooding in Shiraz continues.

The Shiraz representative said that for years, the city administration has not had a plan to prevent the crisis and develop infrastructure. He noted: "Despite the information provided about the possibility of flooding in streets and canals, we witnessed this incident and dozens of people being injured in this flood."

Meanwhile, the Director General of Forensic Medicine in Fars Province has announced the transfer of 17 bodies to the Fars Forensic Medicine, including 6 men, 7 women, and 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl.

According to the latest reports received by the Fars Veterinary Organization, the amount of damage to the livestock, poultry, and aquatic sectors is estimated at about 68 billion Tomans.

Rainfall in Khuzestan to reach triple digits in the next 24 hours

The Director General of Forecasting and Early Warning at the Meteorological Organization said: "The rainfall in Khuzestan in the next 24 hours will reach three digits and reach about 150 millimeters. And the major rivers of this province will definitely face flooding."

Shiraz Medical Sciences has also issued warnings to protect public health, including that citizens should treat floods like sewage and not use well water under any circumstances.

The statement from the Medical Sciences Organization states: "We should avoid contact with flood water and not walk in floodwater without boots. If the floodwater enters the house, household items should be washed and disinfected after the floodwater is removed."

Source: DW