On Monday, September 30, a sudden flash flood in Jiroft, Kerman province, claimed the lives of 15 people, including 14 Afghan nationals and one Iranian. The devastating event unfolded as heavy rainfall in the upper regions of the Halil River caused it to overflow, tragically sweeping away families and children who had been cooling off in the river. The disaster underscores the severe consequences of longstanding governmental neglect and poor disaster management in Iran.
Local authorities confirmed that the victims included seven women and seven children, with the youngest being only two months old. “The flood occurred following unexpected rains about 30 kilometers away, which caused the river to surge,” said Ahmad Bolandnazar, the governor of Jiroft. “We did not have a weather warning for Jiroft, and this tragic event took place despite the absence of such alerts.”
Bolandnazar also highlighted the presence of Afghan migrant workers in the area. “Most of the victims were Afghan nationals working in local farms. Their children had been playing in the river when the flood struck. Efforts to save them led to more deaths, including a farm owner who lost his life while trying to rescue others,” he added.
#Iran News in Brief
Nearly 2,000 villages and several counties in the Sistan and Baluchestan province have been ravaged by destructive #floods, rendering access to over two-thirds of the villages and counties impossible due to extensive inundation.https://t.co/zefE9s0ujr pic.twitter.com/hJj3t5LlVg— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 3, 2024
By the end of the search efforts, 14 bodies had been recovered, and the final victim, a young woman, was found after 13 hours of searching.
This tragic incident is the latest in a series of floods that have struck various regions of Iran, with mismanagement and poor infrastructure playing a significant role in exacerbating their impacts. The Iranian regime has been widely criticized for its failure to invest in proper flood control measures, despite the country’s frequent exposure to natural disasters. Local residents and observers have consistently pointed out that such tragedies are not just the result of natural causes but are compounded by systemic failures in governance.
Iran’s inadequate infrastructure has been a recurring issue. Flash floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change and poor land management, often result in significant loss of life and property. Earlier this year, similar floods in Sistan and Baluchestan, as well as in North Khorasan, resulted in the deaths of several individuals, with local officials failing to respond in a timely or adequate manner.
In a country prone to both droughts and floods, the lack of effective disaster preparedness highlights the Iranian regime’s consistent failure to address the basic needs of its people. As search operations in Jiroft conclude, the community mourns yet another preventable tragedy, fueling longstanding demands for regime change. Iranians, frustrated by years of mismanagement, continue to see national resources funneled toward the regime’s malign priorities, rather than toward protecting the population from such disasters.
#Iran News:
Extensive #Flood Devastation in 23 Provinces amid Regime Inactionhttps://t.co/is030hq17m— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 7, 2024