Criticism grows as Iranian authorities respond to floods
Many Iranian provinces have been hit by flash flooding as criticism grows online about prevention efforts.
Iran's Meteorological Organization has warned of more floods to come in Iran as a number of provinces have been hit by heavy rain and flooding. The massive scale of the flooding and the number of those impacted has prompted the government to call in the military for disaster response.
Fars and Lorestan are the latest provinces hit by floods. In Shiraz, 17 people have been reported killed in flash flooding so far, with an additional 68 injured.
Iran’s Meteorological Organization has warned of potential flash flooding in 12 provinces across the country, mostly in the south and west. Rain showers could be accompanied by lightning, heavy winds, overflowing rivers, snow and slippery roads in mountainous areas, warned the organization. As the storms move south, Iranian officials have warned southern provinces to be on high alert.
While Iranian rescue crews assess the damage and other provinces prepare for the worst, the floods have already been politicized. First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri removed the governor of Golestan, Monaf Hashemi, from his post after criticism that he was on a pre-planned foreign trip when the flooding began. Iran is in the middle of its Nowruz, or New Year, holidays, when many Iranians leave the capital for their home cities or for mountain getaways during the two-week break. The heavy rains began over the weekend in the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran on the Caspian Sea, a popular vacation getaway. According to officials, the approximate 1,000 homes that were damaged were near rivers.
