Tasnim � Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei granted a number of rescue workers killed in a boat accident in the recent flooding in northeastern Iran the title of martyrs.

Upon a request submitted by the Leader�s representative in the province of Golestan, Ayatollah Khamenei granted the six men whose boat capsized in the city of Gomishan the title �martyrs of service.�

A number of the martyrs were local Sunni Muslims.

On March 26, the boat carrying a team of voluntary forces trying to protect Gomishan from the flood waters capsized, killing six forces.

Record spring rainfall that has battered Iran in the past weeks caused serious flooding in many areas, mainly the provinces of Golestan, Lorestan, Khuzestan, Fars and Ilam, forcing thousands to leave their homes.

While residents in some western areas are still in need of relief aid, the Army Ground Force, the IRGC, and Basij have deployed forces, heavy military machinery, aircraft and boats to the disaster zones.

The death toll in the disaster is now reported to be at least 77.