10 Climbers Killed in Iran, Ship Crew Missing after Snowfall And Storms

In the mountains north of Iran's capital, Tehran, at least 10 climbers have died and many more are missing after heavy snowfall, state media announced Saturday, and seven crew members of a ship are also missing after storms in the Persian Gulf.

Heavy snow and winds have closed several roads and disrupted transport in many parts of Iran in the past few days, reports VOA.

Since Friday when two deaths were reported, many climbers remain unaccounted for, while the number reported as missing has risen as contact authorities for families concerned, state television said.

Mehdi Valipour, head of emergency operations at Iran's Red Crescent, was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB. Nine people were killed in the mountains and one died in a hospital after being rescued.

At least seven climbers were still unaccounted for on three popular trails, Valipour said earlier.

Tehran lies at the foot of the Alborz mountain range, which has several ski resorts.

Separately, Iranian maritime authorities were searching for the seven crew members of an Iranian transport vessel that capsized in rough Gulf waters on Friday, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.

"We are trying to find the missing by mobilizing all our facilities and forces, and informing passing vessels and the naval search and rescue centers of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan," Esmail Makkizadeh, deputy head of Iran's regional maritime body, was quoted as saying by ISNA.