IRNA - Speaking to IRNA, Mahdi Ramezani said the libraries in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces as the first flood-hit areas are still open and not damaged.

Referring to libraries in the city of Aqqala which was worst hit by the disaster in Golestan Province, he said two city libraries have survived the floods but their equipment and books have been moved to other places.

He added that libraries in the nearby towns and villages were now closed but not damaged.

He noted that three libraries in Gomishan, another city in the province suffering from floods, also remained undamaged but they closed.

Ramezani said that preventive measures have been taken from the very beginning of the incident to stop flooding in public libraries.

Unprecedented heavy rains caused floods in various parts of Iran over past two weeks. Scores of people were killed and 478 others were injured while a large number of people were displaced across Iran.

The disaster coincided with the high season of Iranians' trips as they were spending the national two-week holidays of Nowruz.

70 people have lost their lives in the recent floods that hit northern, western and southwestern Iran.