Erbil: Volunteer and Child Die in Flash Floods
The governor of Erbil announces the death of two people due to floods that inundated the city.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Erbil Governor Omid Khoshnaw announced on Sunday that two people had died as a result of flash floods that swept through large areas of the city following heavy rainfall, which also submerged homes and commercial shops and caused significant material damage. Emergency teams continued their efforts to pump out water and clear flood debris.
Khoshnaw told a local news network that the victims were a 25-year-old man and a five-year-old child. He explained that the young man had been volunteering to help residents and rescue those affected using his own bulldozer before he was swept away by the waters and lost his life.
He added that the child was inside a car with his father when the vehicle was carried away by the flash floods. The father managed to survive, while rescue teams later recovered the child’s body.
The governor clarified that preliminary estimates put the rainfall at around 80 millimeters, compared to earlier forecasts of about 30 millimeters. This led to widespread flash floods in several neighborhoods, where water flowed forcefully, damaging homes and shops.
In preparation, the Kurdistan Region Civil Defense announced that its teams were placed on high alert, recalled employees who were on leave, and mobilized machinery and equipment to address the consequences of the rain and floods. Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from areas with standing water.
