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Iran Flood Death Toll Reaches 170
TEHRAN, Aug 13 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The death toll from flooding in northern Iran due to torrential rainfall since Friday has risen to 170, with 135 people still reported missing, state television said Monday.
Earlier, Deputy Golestan governor Habibzadeh Dabaq cited by state radio said 10,000 people have so far been evacuated from affected areas in northeastern Golestan province after torrential rains pounded the region at the weekend.
Over 80 people have also been injured, according to state media.
A health department official told news agencies, "Considering the number of bodies spotted, but not yet retrieved from Golestan national park, the death toll could be more than 200."
Serious damage has also been reported to houses, cars and farmland, and provincial officials have announced a three-day period of mourning for the victims. Rescue teams are still searching for the missing.
A resident of Kalaleh, one of the worst-hit towns, described the coming of the flood: "When I walked out of the house, I saw an ocean of water rumbling towards my house, breaking trees and destroying power lines and bridges," Nematollah Dolqizadeh told news agencies, quoted in a BBC online report.
The state news agency IRNA reported that army helicopters have rescued some 700 villagers from the Kalaleh area so far, and that Red Crescent has also deployed two helicopters to the province.
The BBC report said that gas pipelines, electricity and phone lines have been cut and more than 50 miles of roads have been demolished.
The cost of the damage has been estimated at over 200 billion rials ($25 million), BBC reported.
"Over 2,000 houses have been damaged between 10 to 100%," Dabaq said, adding that 18 villages had been affected by the catastrophe.
Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mussavi-Lari, as well as representatives of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami, arrived in the province Monday to supervise rescue efforts, radio said.
Khamenei and Khatami offered condolences Sunday to their nation, particularly to the families of victims, and asked officials to spare no effort in providing relief, IRNA reported.
Local officials have called for shipments of essential supplies, including tents and medicine.
Infrastructure in the region has also been heavily damaged, IRNA said Saturday.
The floods come as Iran has been suffering its most serious drought in 30 years.
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