Iranian authorities on Monday evacuated patients from a hospital threatened by <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flood-death-toll-rises-to-70-several-towns-and-villages-evacuated-208288&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiIubXfssDhAhWU6XMBHWGIC0QQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LZ45ykIjn-mR0Jl2fAUsY">floodwaters</a> in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported.

Iran has been hit by several weeks of unprecedented <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-evacuates-flood-threatened-villages-after-heavy-rains-kill-dozens-206805&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiIubXfssDhAhWU6XMBHWGIC0QQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3zvr-goGaHO0ouxi4E4SXT">flooding</a> across most of the usually arid country that has <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-18-dead-70-injured-as-iran-faces-unprecedented-floods-205604&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiIubXfssDhAhWU6XMBHWGIC0QQFggOMAM&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw04H3rTpv7RV-ZStBDEWm3O">killed 70 people</a>, according to the emergency services.

On Monday, authorities were battling to prevent floods reaching Ahvaz, which is the capital of Khuzestan province and home to about 1.3 million people.

The advancing waters sparked fears that a hospital on the city's northern outskirts would be submerged after the nearby Karkheh river burst its banks.

"Salamat hospital has been evacuated and all patients transferred to Golestan hospital on the orders of the crisis management authorities due to the risk of the hospital being flooded," the head of Golestan hospital, Meysam Moazi, told ISNA.

The huge floods have forced authorities to release water from one of the largest dams in the area, which has left some of the cities downstream under threat.

A "significant amount" of floodwater from Karkheh started moving toward Ahvaz on Sunday, according to city mayor Mansour Katanbaf.

"We've been trying to manage the water ... most of it has been diverted toward other channels and what's left is being handled," Katanbaf told ISNA.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of six new cities along the Karkheh river on Saturday as the situation neared "critical" status.

According to ISNA, a total of 210 villages along the river have been evacuated, 61 of which are now flooded.

Flooding swamped northeast Iran in mid-March before spreading to the west and southwest of the country later in the month.

Heavy rains brought more floods to the west and southwest at the start of April.

The flooding has caused damage worth 150 trillion Iranian rials -- more than $1 billion at the free market rate, according to an official estimate given by lawmaker Mehrdad Lahooti.

Iranian authorities on Monday evacuated patients from a hospital threatened by floodwaters in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported.

Iranian authorities on Monday evacuated patients from a hospital threatened by floodwaters in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported. Iran has been hit by several weeks of unprecedented flooding across most of the usually arid country that has killed 70 people, according to the emergency services. On Monday, authorities were battling to prevent floods reaching Ahvaz, which is the capital of Khuzestan province and home to about 1.3 million people. The advancing waters sparked fears that a hospital on the city's northern outskirts would be submerged after the nearby Karkheh river burst its banks. "Salamat hospital has been evacuated and all patients transferred to Golestan hospital on the orders of the crisis management authorities due to the risk of the hospital being flooded," the head of Golestan hospital, Meysam Moazi, told ISNA. The huge floods have forced authorities to release water from one of the largest dams in the area, which has left some of the cities downstream under threat. A "significant amount" of floodwater from Karkheh started moving toward Ahvaz on Sunday, according to city mayor Mansour Katanbaf. "We've been trying to manage the water ... most of it has been diverted toward other channels and what's left is being handled," Katanbaf told ISNA. Authorities ordered the evacuation of six new cities along the Karkheh river on Saturday as the situation neared "critical" status. According to ISNA, a total of 210 villages along the river have been evacuated, 61 of which are now flooded. Flooding swamped northeast Iran in mid-March before spreading to the west and southwest of the country later in the month. Heavy rains brought more floods to the west and southwest at the start of April. The flooding has caused damage worth 150 trillion Iranian rials -- more than $1 billion at the free market rate, according to an official estimate given by lawmaker Mehrdad Lahooti.

Floods force evacuation of hospital in southwest Iran

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flood-death-toll-rises-to-70-several-towns-and-villages-evacuated-208288">fears of new flooding</a>, state news agency IRNA said.

Six cities alongside Karkheh river in southwestern Iran "must be evacuated as soon as possible," Khuzestan governor Gholamreza Shariati told IRNA.

The oil-rich province of Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams, which have swelled upstream due to fresh downpours.

The floodwater's intensity has forced authorities to open emergency discharges at Karkheh dam, one of the largest in the area, thus sparking fears of fresh flooding.

The situation appears to be "critical", he said.

"We advise all women and children to be evacuated to shelters and youngsters to remain and help," he added.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli warned that up to 400,000 people in Khuzestan could be exposed to the floods, IRNA reported.

Iran, a usually arid country, has been hit by unprecedented flooding across most of the country since mid-March with 70 people killed, according to the country's emergency services.

Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday in Khuzestan.

The country's northeast was swamped on March 19 before the west and southwest of the country were inundated on March 25, killing a total of 45 people.

On April 1 the west and southwest were again swamped by floods when heavy rains returned to the area.

The government said the flooding had damaged nearly 12,000 kilometres of roads or 36 per cent of the country's entire network.

The worst hit in the latest deluge was Lorestan Province where in some cities whole neighbourhoods were washed away and many villages are still cut off.&nbsp;

Fourteen deaths have been reported from Lorestan so far.

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked fears of new flooding, state news agency IRNA said.

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked fears of new flooding, state news agency IRNA said. Six cities alongside Karkheh river in southwestern Iran "must be evacuated as soon as possible," Khuzestan governor Gholamreza Shariati told IRNA. The oil-rich province of Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams, which have swelled upstream due to fresh downpours. The floodwater's intensity has forced authorities to open emergency discharges at Karkheh dam, one of the largest in the area, thus sparking fears of fresh flooding. The situation appears to be "critical", he said. "We advise all women and children to be evacuated to shelters and youngsters to remain and help," he added. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli warned that up to 400,000 people in Khuzestan could be exposed to the floods, IRNA reported. Iran, a usually arid country, has been hit by unprecedented flooding across most of the country since mid-March with 70 people killed, according to the country's emergency services. Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday in Khuzestan. The country's northeast was swamped on March 19 before the west and southwest of the country were inundated on March 25, killing a total of 45 people. On April 1 the west and southwest were again swamped by floods when heavy rains returned to the area. The government said the flooding had damaged nearly 12,000 kilometres of roads or 36 per cent of the country's entire network. The worst hit in the latest deluge was Lorestan Province where in some cities whole neighbourhoods were washed away and many villages are still cut off. Fourteen deaths have been reported from Lorestan so far.

Iran orders new evacuations amid fresh flood fears

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Floods force evacuation of hospital in southwest Iran

Iran orders new evacuations amid fresh flood fears