60 Are Feared Dead in Iranian Landslide
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TEHRAN — All 60 residents of a remote Iranian village were feared dead Saturday after torrential rain set off a landslide that swept over the area in southwestern Iran.
A helicopter rescue team that made it to the area Saturday was unable to find the village of Abkennareh. Relief officials said they feared that it may have been completely buried by mud from Wednesday’s slide.
The helicopter could not spend much time searching because of strong winds, which earlier forced several other helicopters to turn back before making it to the area.
Iranian television said the landslide occurred Wednesday, but government officials learned about it Friday. Relief efforts began Saturday.
Heavy rains have turned roads into mud, and relief workers traveling by foot to Abkennareh called off their efforts at nightfall, officials said.
“The guess is that there are no survivors in the village,” said Nourallah Mousavi, an aide to the governor of Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province.
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