Report on Shiraz Flood: Proposal for Dam Construction Ignored for 20 Years

The 'Fact-Finding' Committee of the Shiraz City Council reported on the reasons for the flood incident at 'Darvaze Quran', stating that two consultants had proposed the construction of 'two delay dams' about 20 years ago to prevent flooding, but this plan was not implemented. According to the report, construction activities in this area and the building of the 'Kharameh to Ziba Shahr' road are among the reasons for the increased intensity and power of the flood. The committee explained the responsibilities of various departments regarding flood management and the dredging of rivers and bridges, but did not specify which entities were at fault. This report was read during the Shiraz City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 19. Following the flood in 2004, a contract was signed in 2008 with the consulting engineers 'Amayesh' to study the watershed of 'Darvaze Quran'. The committee stated that after conducting studies, the company had proposed the construction of two 'delay dams' in the upper elevations and an increase in the floodwater transfer line by another 60 centimeters, but these studies were not executed due to lack of final approval and other management issues. The report also mentioned that in 2012, the consulting engineers 'Abasar' presented a 'somewhat similar' plan which also was not implemented. The engineers from 'Abasar' indicated that in 2015, they resubmitted their plan, but due to lack of approval from the senior consultant, the plan was sent for confirmation to the Fars Regional Water Company without any feedback. Heavy rainfall in 'Darvaze Quran' on Tuesday, April 5, caused a massive flood in the city, resulting in 22 fatalities. The water swept away around 200 vehicles in the area. According to the City Council committee report, the heavy rain began at 11:32 and lasted until 11:46, with rainfall intensity causing 17 to 24 millimeters of rain in just 14 minutes. The committee noted that the flood reached the 'Darvaze Quran' area at 12:12 and lasted until 12:22, indicating a 'concentration time' of 26 minutes for the flood. The report stated that there was 'sufficient time for notification and evacuation of the exit route on Boulevard Quran' during these 26 minutes. After the Shiraz flood, old images of 'Darvaze Quran' were shared, with some citizens noting that there used to be a valley in the area that served as a flood passage, but the municipality filled this valley about 15 years ago. Meanwhile, the City Council committee reported that over the past 30 years, about 130 hectares of 'man-made features' have been constructed in the watershed of 'Darvaze Quran', preventing water infiltration into the ground and exacerbating runoff and flooding. The report indicated that 'encroachments upstream, particularly the road construction of Kharameh to Ziba Shahr, have created makeshift embankments' which have been washed away, and 'high sediment concentration has increased the destructive power' of the flood. According to government officials, since the beginning of the new year, 400 cities and villages in 15 provinces of Iran have been affected by flooding, resulting in 70 deaths. In this context, who bears the costs of inefficiency in dealing with floods? Manifestations of 'clique' management in the flood crisis. The state of cracks in the ancient site of Naqsh-e Rustam is 'critical'. Images and videos of floods in Iran on social media. Severe flooding occurred in Darvaze Quran, Shiraz; the death toll has risen to 19. Severe government repression and the risk of 'underground' protests. What doctors and eyewitnesses recount about the injured in the protests. The limitations of China-Iran relations have become apparent amid protests.