Following multiple reports of poisoning of dozens of individuals in Roudbar County, Gilan Province, local officials have provided contradictory reasons regarding this incident. Hours after the Gilan Water and Wastewater Company denied any connection between the poisonings in Roudbar and drinking water, the head of Gilan University of Medical Sciences reported an increase in the number of poisonings in this county to '260 people'. Mohammad Taghi Ashoubi stated on Saturday, July 9, that these patients have been visiting medical centers since yesterday, saying, 'So far, 260 citizens of Roudbar have presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps at public and private medical centers in this county.' Nader Safavi, the governor of Roudbar, also confirmed in a phone interview with the evening news of Gilan provincial television that citizens of this county are visiting medical centers due to 'symptoms of nausea,' 'body pain,' and 'stomach burning.' The Gilan Water and Wastewater Company responded to these statements on Saturday in a statement declaring, 'There is no connection between the poisoning of residents in Roudbar and the consumption of drinking water from the distribution network in this county.' The statement also mentioned that in the governor's remarks, 'there was no reference or connection made between the occurrence of this event and the drinking water of Roudbar.' Meanwhile, Nader Safavi, in his Friday night interview, stated, 'In the initial investigation, water contamination was identified as the cause of poisoning for these individuals.' The issue of drinking water contamination, water sources, and rivers in Gilan Province has been reported multiple times in Iranian domestic media. Additionally, in a meeting of the Water Resources Protection Council of Roudbar County in December 2021, the infiltration of agricultural toxins, wastewater, and sewage, as well as the encroachment of salty sea water, were identified as the main factors of groundwater pollution.
Announcement of Poisoning of '260 People' in Roudbar County, Gilan Province
In Roudbar County, Gilan Province, 260 individuals have reported symptoms of poisoning, leading to confusion among local officials about the cause. While the water company denies any link to drinking water, the governor initially suggested water contamination as a potential cause. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about water quality and public health in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
In Roudbar County, Gilan Province, 260 individuals reported symptoms of poisoning, leading to conflicting statements from local officials regarding the cause. While the water company denied any link to drinking water, the governor initially suggested water contamination as a potential cause.
- 260 citizens presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
- Local officials provided contradictory statements regarding the cause of the poisonings.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced persistent water quality issues, often linked to pollution from agricultural practices and inadequate infrastructure. This incident reflects ongoing public health risks associated with these challenges.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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