Leader Urges Dispatch of More Equipment to Flood-Hit Areas

TEHRAN (defapress) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei ordered Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri to dispatch more equipment and facilities to the flood-hit people in the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran.

News ID: 76373

Date: 24 March 2019 - 16:21

In a message to Major General Baqeri released on Saturday night, Ayatollah Khamenei said according to the received information, the flood-stricken people in the two provinces are in dire need of assistance and equipment of the Armed forces.

The Leader further asked him to order the dispatch of more equipment to the two provinces for relief operations.

Earlier on Saturday, General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces announced that its forces were planned to be deployed to the flood-hit areas to take part in the rescue operations.

Heavy rains have affected over 56,000 people in at least 70 villages in Golestan and more than 200 others in Mazandaran, according to local officials.

The flooding has claimed the lives of five people and destroyed hundreds of homes over the past few days.

High water has forced evacuations of several small farm communities as all farmland has been swamped, local reports said.

Footage from both provinces showed massive flows of water running over roads and streets, with cars being washed away, people struggling to walk, and traffic being disrupted.

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