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Iran Flood Death Toll Reaches 240, Over 300 Missing
TEHRAN, Aug 14 (News Agencies) - The death toll from flooding in Iran's northeastern Golestan province over the past few days has reached 240, with over 300 people reported missing, state media said Tuesday.
Forty of the victims were found in a dam in Golestan province where floods in recent days have caused serious damage, destroying houses, roads, farm land and livestock.
Another 15 people have been killed in floods in the northeastern Khorassan province.
The army has been called in to help with some 15 military helicopters participating in rescue efforts, the distribution of food, blankets, tents, as well as the evacuation of victims - 15,000 people so far.
The floods, fed by torrential rains that pounded the region over the weekend, have been the worst in Golestan province in 200 years, according to state media.
The destruction of main roads makes rescue efforts even more difficult.
Since the start of the flood on Saturday, state television has been broadcasting images of the flooded areas, showing rescue teams trying to revive victims, helicopters scouring the troubled zone and relief teams helping to transport people to safety.
A three-day mourning period for the victims was announced Monday, while senior officials, including 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.
Following a call by local officials for shipments of essential supplies including medicine, Iran's Red Crescent organization has appealed for financial and material help from the population.
In statements read on television, the organization has been regularly calling on the population to "provide financial and material help to the victims of the flood-stricken areas."
Red Crescent chief Mohammad Nurbala said that his organization was "actively participating in rescue efforts," but warned of a lack of food, tents and medication.
Officials have succeeded in clearing paths through the Golestan forest in order to help evacuate families who had been traveling in the region with their cars, some of whom have been trapped for four days.
Although Iran has not yet appealed for international aid, a first shipment arrived from Kuwait early Tuesday, with a further shipment expected Wednesday.
And on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement expressing condolences to Iranians over their losses and offering assistance from the United Nations in providing aid, the state news agency IRNA reported Monday.
The floods come as Iran has been suffering its most serious drought in 30 years.
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