Iran floods death toll rises

The flood waters have cut off access to villages

The number of dead in flash floods which have swept across north-eastern Iran is reported to have risen to about 170.

Iranian state television says a further 135 people are still missing, the AFP news agency AFP reports.

Ten thousand people have been evacuated to higher ground after three days of torrential rain in Golestan and Khorasan provinces, according to local officials.

I saw an ocean of water rumbling towards my house, breaking trees and destroying power lines and bridges

Nematollah Dolqizadeh

The deputy governor of Golestan, the worst-hit province, said more than 2,000 homes were damaged in the heaviest flooding to hit the region for 200 years.

Gas pipelines, electricity and phone lines have been cut and over 80km (50 miles) of roads have been destroyed, as well as thousands of hectares of farmland.

The cost of the damage has been put at over 200bn rials ($25mn).

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has described the floods as a huge disaster.

Thousands of people have been evacuated to safety

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mousavi and an envoy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went to Golestan on Monday to supervise relief efforts, Iranian radio reported.

Army helicopters have been transporting food and medicine to villages cut off by mudslides and bulldozers are working to clear debris blocking roads.

It is feared the death toll could rise.

"Considering the number of bodies spotted but not yet retrieved from Golestan national park, the death toll could be more than 200," health department official Reza Honarvar told the Associated Press news agency.

Knee-deep in mud

Rescue workers pulled bodies from the mud and stranded residents were evacuated to hilltop shelters.

With waters receding, some areas were still knee-deep in mud.

A resident of Kalaleh, one of the worst affected towns, described the flood's onslaught.

"When I walked out of the house, I saw an ocean of water rumbling towards my house, breaking trees and destroying power lines and bridges," Nematollah Dolqizadeh told the Associated Press.

And in Gonbad-e Kavus, tearful relatives watched as rescue workers deposited bodies in a food freezer turned into makeshift morgue.

In Golestan National Park, a rescue pilot spotted at least three tourist buses buried in the mud, one of them upside down.

At least 32 people were killed and dozens more injured in floods in Khorasan province in May, after the worst drought in 30 years.