Iran issues ‘orange’ weather alert as flooding kills three
Heavy rain and snow swept across much of Iran on Monday, prompting the national meteorological agency to issue an “orange” weather alert for 12 provinces and forcing authorities to put emergency services on full standby.
The hardest hit regions were Fars, Bushehr, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Kurdistan provinces, while intense precipitation was also recorded in parts of West Azerbaijan, South Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, Kerman and Khuzestan.
Authorities warned of flooding, river overflows and flash floods, saying rainfall and falling temperatures were expected to continue for the next two days.
The “orange” alert is one of Iran’s official weather warning levels and indicates relatively severe and potentially hazardous conditions in the near term.
It signals that weather conditions could cause serious disruption to daily activities, transport, agriculture and infrastructure, and that preventive measures are required.
Three people were reported dead in Kohgiluyeh county after a river flooded the village of Sarpari.
Emergency services said one victim drowned while attempting to cross the river by car, and two others died while trying to rescue him. Rescue teams have recovered two bodies so far.
Snow and rain have blocked some roads, and authorities urged residents to avoid stopping near rivers or climbing mountainous areas. Drivers were advised to travel only if necessary.
Separately, the National Iranian Gas Co. (NIGC) called on households to conserve energy to ensure stable gas supplies during the cold spell.
In Iran, about 75% of natural gas is consumed by households, commercial users and small businesses.
The NIGC urged citizens to set indoor temperatures at 20 degrees Celsius and avoid heating unused rooms.