In Pictures

‘Our dams are 95 percent full’: Iran braces for more flooding

Scores of villages in Khuzestan ordered evacuated due to a growing risk of floods

Iranian soldiers help civilians in a flooded area in a village around the city of Ahvaz, in Iran''s Khuzestan province, on March 31, 2019. Iranian authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of flood- — Iranian soldiers help civilians in a flooded area in a village around the city of Ahvaz, in Iran's Khuzestan province. [Mehdi Pedramkhoo/Tasnim News/AFP]

Authorities in Iran have ordered the evacuation of more than 70 villages in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, as the effect of severe flooding spread further across the country.

The move on Tuesday came amid a state of emergency in several flood-ravaged provinces.

At least 47 people have been killed in the past two weeks from flash floods triggered by the worst rains in Iran in at least a decade.

Ali Asghar Peyvandi, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, said he feared many villages in Khuzestan “will be submerged” as flood waters moved south towards the oil-rich province.

“With the possibility of dams overflowing, we have made preparations to accommodate 100,000 people,” he told state television.

Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams but officials said water was flowing into them at a fast rate. In some cases water levels were only 70cm lower than the dam crests, they reported.

“Our dams are more than 95 percent full,” Gholamreza Shariati, governor of the province, told state TV.

Iranian media said on Tuesday that electricity and telecommunications had been cut in affected areas, roads had been washed away and people were waiting on rooftops to be rescued in some villages.

President Hassan Rouhani, accused by critics of mishandling the flooding crisis, has promised compensation to all those affected.

A handout photo made available by the presidential office shows flood effected cities and villages in Golesetan province, Iran, 27 March 2019. According to reports, the Iranian government issued flood — Triggered by heavy rainfall, several rivers have burst their banks. Emergency services are advising people to postpone unnecessary intra-city commutes as well as trips to western and southern Iran, including Khuzestan, which is expecting heavy flooding in the coming days. [EPA]

In this Monday, April 1, 2019 photo, a man watches as floodwaters hit the city of Khorramabad in the western province of Lorestan, Iran. Iran''s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted late on Mo — A man watches as floodwaters hit the city of Khorramabad in the western province of Lorestan, Iran. [Erfan Keshvari/ISNA/AP Photo]

Damaged vehicles are seen after a flash flooding in Shiraz, Iran, March 26, 2019. Tasnim News Agency/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY — Damaged vehicles are seen after flash flooding in Shiraz, Iran. [Tasnim News Agency/Reuters]

An Iranian man carries his son in a flooded way in a village around t city of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, Iran, 31 March 2019 (issued 02 April 2019). At least 45 people have died in the past two weeks — The flooding has affected at least 26 of Iran's 31 provinces. [Mehdi Pedramkhoo/EPA]

General view of flood as hit the city of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, western Iran, 01 April 2019 (issued 02 April 2019). At least 45 people have died in the past two weeks after heavy rains, with — The floods first began in the second half of March in the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran and later spread further across the country. [Saeed Soroush/EPA]

An Iranian family walks through a flooded street in a village around the city of Ahvaz, in Iran''s Khuzestan province, on March 31, 2019. Iranian authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-s — An Iranian family walks through a flooded street in a village around the city of Ahvaz, in Iran's Khuzestan province. [Mehdi Pedramkhoo /Tasnim News/AFP]

Men push a vehicle after a flash flooding in Shiraz, Iran, March 26, 2019. Tasnim News Agency/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY — Iran has seen a decades-long drought but the latest flooding has also been blamed on widespread disregard for safety measures and construction of buildings and roads near the rivers. [Tasnim News Agency/Reuters]

An Iranian man carries a carpet from his flooded home in the city of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, western Iran, 01 April 2019 (issued 02 April 2019). At least 45 people have died in the past two we — An Iranian man carries a carpet from his flooded home in the city of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, western Iran. [Saeed Soroush/EPA]

People walk next to damaged vehicles after a flash flooding in Shiraz, Iran, March 26, 2019. Tasnim News Agency/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY — Iranian media reports said the floods have cut off some 80 intercity roads, as well as roads to nearly 2,200 villages. [Tasnim News Agency/Reuters]