Heavy Rain and Hail in Mashhad; Flooding Closes Main Routes

As heavy rainfall resumed in Mashhad, reports indicate hail and flooding in the streets, causing damage and disrupting the normal flow of life for citizens. According to reports and images shared on social media and domestic media from the evening of Saturday, May 29, the torrential rains led to street and alley flooding and water flowing from the roofs of many homes in Mashhad. Images show that alongside the rain, the hail with large pellets exacerbated the situation, damaging roofs of various buildings and shattering car windows. One video shared on social media shows a flood carrying a car away in one of the boulevards in Mashhad, while another video depicts a motorcycle courier losing control of his vehicle due to the severity of the flood. Additionally, another video shows a strong flood current in the 'Shandiz' area near Mashhad, sweeping a man away, who is ultimately rescued from drowning by a group of people. Faramarz Abbasi, head of crisis management in Razavi Khorasan province, announced that within just half an hour, 25 millimeters of rain fell in Mashhad, which he claims is unprecedented in the city in the 'last 200 years.' Following the onset of the rains on Saturday, the crisis headquarters urged people to stay at home. According to Alireza Rahimi, head of traffic police in Razavi Khorasan, the severity of the flooding has led to the closure of three main routes in Mashhad. Based on warnings from the meteorological organization, there is a risk of 'rain, relatively severe flooding, and flash floods' in Razavi Khorasan province on Sunday as well. The organization has warned that heavy rainfall will continue across the country until Wednesday, June 2. Meanwhile, as the death toll from last week's floods in Razavi Khorasan province rises to 12, the public prosecutor of the province promised on Saturday morning to deal with the 'culprits' of this incident 'without discrimination.' Following the heavy rainfall in Razavi Khorasan province, which began last Tuesday, several areas in Mashhad and other cities in the province experienced flooding, resulting in not only fatalities but also extensive financial damages.