Heavy Snowfall, Avalanche Leave Casualties in Northern Iran
At least seven people have been killed and 85 others wounded in the heavy snowfall and avalanches that hit northern Iran, especially Gilan and Ardabil provinces.
The heavy snowfall in Gilan, with a height of up to 1.5 metres in some areas, created serious problems for the residents of at least 52 cities of the province, such as power cuts in almost all areas including the provincial capital of Rasht.
The power access of 256,000 people in Gilan was cut, but the Energy Ministry has managed to restore the access for some 50,000.
The snow started on Sunday evening in the western part of the province, and spread to the central and eastern parts on Monday and Tuesday.
Despite earlier predictions, the Crisis Management and roads officials were surprised as many major routes, including the Tehran-Rasht Freeway, were blocked and people were stranded in the snow-blanketed roads for more than a day.
Power, water, gas, and internet cuts have also exacerbated the situation for the people of this province.
Now the weather forecasts say it will get warmer as of Wednesday, but that will increase the risk of flooding and avalanche in mountainous areas.
What follows are photos of the heavy snowfall:
IFP Editorial Staff
The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.
