An immense downpour has done severe damage to Astara, a city of 50,000 that lies on the Caspian coast where Iran borders Azerbaijan. The storm was reported to have dumped 265 millimeters (10-1/2 inches) of rain on the city in just 12 hours. Local authorities call it the heaviest storm in a century. Fortunately, no one was killed, though 20 were reported injured. The city bazaar was inundated and had to be closed. The Sibly Bridge partially collapsed and half of it was washed away into the sea.
