Official death toll from Iran flooding rises to 57

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – The death toll from ongoing flooding across Iran has reached 57 with another 478 injured, officials said Tuesday.

Mujtaba Khalidi, a spokesman for Iran’s Emergency Directorate, said that several provinces -- including Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Fars and Golestan -- had been adversely affected.

Earlier Tuesday, officials said that the flooding had caused material losses countrywide estimated at some $170 million.

According to Mortaza Salemi, head of the Iranian Red Crescent, humanitarian aid has been dispatched to more than 43,000 people in 293 affected cities and villages.