Iran ? Floods spawned by the remnants of Cyclone Gonu stranded dozens of tiny villages, such as one in the Marez area, above, Friday in the deserts of southern Iran, cutting off roads, power and communications and sending some residents into trees for safety.

Water encircled more than 100 villages deep in Kerman Province, where many residents subsist on livestock and small farm plots in villages consisting of a handful of families. The storm killed at least 52 people – 49 in Oman and three in Iran – with more than two dozen missing.

Lieutenant Siamak Miladi, a police commander in the Iranian town of Kalaganj, said rescue workers were expected to reach many villages by helicopter today.