Storms Kill at Least 14 as Forecasters Fail to Issue Warnings

Severe wind and thunderstorms have led to the death of at least 14 people in Tehran and Alborz, about 85km from the capital.

Tehran was hit by winds of up to 80km per hour and lightning storms on July 19, a year on from a similar storm that resulted in the deaths of at least six people.

The severity of the storm was not anticipated, and took meteorologists and residents by surprise. Speaking to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), the head of Tehran’s Crisis Management Committee, Hadi Rahmati, said: “Iran’s Meteorological Organization had forecasted the wind, but had not said anything about its speed.” There was widespread criticism of the government organization’s inability to predict the severity of the storms across social media and on television.

On June 2, 2014, Tehran was hit by a similar storm, with winds of 120km per hour causing the deaths of at least six people and  widespread destruction. The government reported that meteorologists had been unable to forecast the storms because of inadequate equipment and satellite-jamming resulting from filtering initiatives by some government-run institutes. Three directors resigned from Iran’s Meteorological Organization as a result.

Although Iranian media reported widely on the damage caused by the July 19 storm, it was slow to report on the fatalities. A spokesman for Tehran’s Fire Department, Jalal Maleki, said there were at least 30 reported incidents in the north and northwest of Tehran, including floods, fallen trees, damaged power supplies and damaged buildings. There were reports of a landslide near Imamzadeh Davood Road northwest of Tehran.

Initial reports said that up to 10 people had been injured in Tehran and Karaj provinces. On July 21, two days after the severe storms, the ISNA reported the deaths of at least 14 people.

Some international media, including BBC Persian, also reported the fatalities.

The storm caused heavy traffic on most of the capital’s highways, mostly due to floods, according to the deputy of Tehran's traffic police.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported winds of 78km and said the storm, combined with Tehran’s usual haze, affected Tehran and its western neighbouring cities, resulting in extremely poor visibility. In some cases, sunlight was almost entirely blocked out, with reports of sudden darkness affecting some areas.

A thunderstorm followed the high winds, improving air quality and visibility. 

Read the original article in Persian

Related article:

Tehran Storm Leaves Four Dead and More Than 50 Injured

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