DEATH TOLL FROM DEVASTATING FLOODS IN GOLESTAN GOING UP
TEHRAN 14 Aug (IPS) The death toll from the unprecedented rains that flooded
large parts of northern Iran, mostly in the Golestan Province, reached 200,
while damages caused to the infrastructure, agriculture and the population
exceeded 200 billions Rials (one US Dollars is changed against 7500 Rials in the
black market), official said Monday.
They said at least 173 people had died in the floods in Golestan and hopes were fading for another 160 still missing.
"There is a high possibility that most of the missing may be dead, but because of the bad weather, we cannot find them", the officially news agency IRNA quoted Mr. Habibzadeh Dabbagh, the Deputy Governor of the devastated area, as saying.
"Based on the reports of the rescue teams, the death toll will definitely rise", he estimated.
Some 10,000 people in the flooded areas have been evacuated by army helicopter, the source further said, adding that rescue teams have so far picked up some 7,500 villagers, but some 800 others are still stranded in the worst affected areas in Golestan and Khorasan provinces.
Army and Red Crescent helicopters were roaming the flooded areas for the fourth day, looking for survivors.
The floods hit Golestan, mostly the cities of Minoodasht and Kalaleh on Friday after heavy rains washed out parts of the Province, cutting road communications to neighbouring Khorasan Province and Turkmenistan Republic, electricity, gas and water, as rivers burst their banks.
Some 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of farmland is now under water and about 1,500 houses have been destroyed by the floods, that hit Iran after three years of severe drought, making Iran the world first wheat importer.
Television showed pictures of buses and cars overturned by the floods and survivors perched on homes and small islands of dry land awaiting rescue.
Bridges and roads were swept away in muddy torrents
As the Majles approved urgent emergency relief for victims of the devastating floods, Local officials have called for volunteers to help Red Crescent aid workers search for the missing. A bank account has been opened for donations to help the flood victims.
Many newspapers criticised what they said was the government's lack of preparedness to deal with the disaster.
"Much of the loss of life and destruction of property could have been avoided or at least lessened, if the government was effectively prepared and existing strategies to counter natural disasters had been implemented", the "No Rouz" (New Day) newspaper quoted Mr. Hamid Niazi, a University Professor as saying. ENDS FLOODS 13801