A picture taken on February 18, 2017 shows a general view of a bridge in the Iranian city of Ahvaz during a sandstorm. Many people were killed as floods, avalanches and dust storms gripped the country, state media reported. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

TEHRAN, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Death toll in the floods caused by downpours in Iran's northwestern provinces has risen to 35 people, semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Most of the victims were from Ajab-Shir and Azar-Shahr regions in East Azerbaijan province.

The Chief of Iran's Crisis Management Organization, Esmail Najjar, confirmed the death toll, saying that eight people are still missing.

The downpours, started Friday, has been the heaviest last seen 40 years ago, according to Press TV.

The reports added that water level in the rivers of Azar-Shahr has risen to the highest levels over the past decades.