Death toll rises to 42 in Iran's floods

TEHRAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the recent flooding in Iran's northwestern provinces has risen to 42 people, state IRIB TV reported on Sunday.

Among the dead, 36 were from Ajab-Shir and Azar-Shahr regions in East Azerbaijan Province, five from Kurdistan Province and one from West Azerbaijan Province, the spokesman of Iran's Crisis Management Bureru was quoted as saying.

Six people are still missing, the report said, adding that the flood has caused damage to 52 towns and villages in the northwest of the country.

The downpours, starting 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 over the past decades.