At least 25 people were killed and 16 declared missing as flash floods hit northwestern Iran, state media reported on Saturday.

"Twenty-five people have been killed in the floods across four provinces," the head of Iran's emergency response organisation, Esmail Najar, told the ISNA news agency.

Director General of Crisis Management in East Azerbaijan province, Khalil Saei, was quoted as saying: "Rescue teams have found 17 dead bodies after flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the cities of Ajabshir and Azarshahr."

Saei added that Red Crescent workers, air ambulances, police and army forces have been deployed from the early hours of the incident for providing aid."

Torrential rains that began on 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.

In September, at least 10 people were killed in flash flooding in Tehran and Hormozgan provinces.