By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

More than 50 homes in Iraq’s southern Najaf province have been swept away by severe flashfloods, a local civil-defense official said Monday.

“Torrential floods from the Najaf desert -- the result of recent heavy rainfall -- have swept away more than 50 homes in the village of Al-Rahimiya in the province’s southwest region,” Ihab Sheikli, a local civil-defense official, told Anadolu Agency.

Civil-defense teams are now helping local families relocate to safer areas, Sheikli said, adding that no casualties had been reported thus far.

On Sunday, Iraq’s Water Resources Ministry warned the public to brace for inordinately heavy rainfall -- and accompanying flashfloods -- in the days ahead.

Last November, at least 10 people were killed in different parts of Iraq by torrential rains and flooding.