Tehran: At least 35 people were killed and 8 declared missing as flash floods hit northwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday.

"Thirty-five people have been killed in the floods across four provinces," the head of Iran's emergency response organisation, Esmail Najar, is known to have .

Torrential rains that began Friday lashed East Azerbaijan province, with state television showing images of rivers bursting their banks, flooded houses and cars being swept away by the surging water.

The districts of Ajabshir and Azarshahr were the worst hit.