Floods in north-western provinces of Iran have claimed at least 40 lives. Severe flooding, which was caused by torrential rains, started on Friday in the provinces of East and West Azarbaijan, Kurdistan and Zanjan.
35 people were killed in East Azarbaijan province, with 17 out of them being carried away in the cars by waters and later found dead by rescuers.
Landslides caused by the flood killed four people in Saqqez town and one person in the city of Baneh of the Kurdistan province. Search and rescue operations are underway in the areas affected by the floods with the assistance of military and law enforcement authorities