Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 12, 2020—At least seven people have been killed and 78 injured as a result of a sudden snowstorm in the northern provinces of Iran in the past few days. Seven people were killed in Gilan province. Five died in an avalanche, and two people were killed in Rasht, one after a ceiling caved in under the weight of the snow, and the other died after falling from a roof.
In Rudbar, five people have been reported missing.
The snow has blocked the Qazvin-Rasht highway. Some reports indicate that the main roads of Rasht have been blocked as well and commute has become very difficult. 50 of the 52 cities and counties of Gilan are currently affected by the snowfall, which in some areas surpasses two meters. According to local reports, there are very little government relief efforts.
On Wednesday, all schools were closed in Gilan.
Heavy snowfall in Gilan province
According to the caretaker of Gilan province’s weather forecasting office, the city of Masuleh has seen one meter of snowfall, Rasht 50-80 centimeters, Lahijan 70 centimeters and Astara 46 centimeters.
The weather forecasting office declared that the snowfall has stopped in some areas, but in the next few days, there will be a wave of freezing cold weather and wind.
The public relations manager of Gilan’s electricity company said that more than 250,000 people have lost electricity. The company has 1.46 million customers. According to IRNA news agency, Rasht, Sumeh Sara, Fuman, Shaft, Anzali, Rezvanshahr, Langrud, Lahijan, and Astaneh Ashrafiyeh are among the cities that are dealing with power outages. Lahijan and Astaneh Ashrafiyeh are hit the worst.
Some Iranian media have reported that the storm has left nearly 100,000 homes and businesses in Rasht, a city of more than 700,000 people, without power while causing outages in telephone and mobile communications.
