ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Extensive damage has been caused to homes, businesses, vehicles and public infrastructure across Erbil after torrential rainfall triggered widespread flash floods on Saturday evening, killing two people, Governor Omed Khoshnaw told Rudaw on Sunday.
"Unfortunately, once again another disaster has struck the people of our city," Khoshnaw told Rudaw's Ranja Jamal, adding that rainfall, initially forecast at around 30 millimeters, intensified sharply after 7 pm, with preliminary estimates putting precipitation at approximately 80 millimeters.
The victims were a five-year-old child and a volunteer bulldozer operator aged over 25, both of whom were swept away by powerful floodwaters.
The child was travelling in a vehicle with his father in the New Erbil neighborhood when the car was caught in the flooding. Rescue teams subsequently recovered his body.
The second victim was a volunteer who had been assisting emergency responders and residents near Hiwa City when he was swept away by the surging water. His body was also recovered.
Khoshnaw described the latest flooding as "very widespread," saying it affected most of Erbil's neighborhoods, particularly areas along the 150-Meter Road, stretching from the eastern parts of the city toward the center.
The governor said the floods had caused substantial losses to residential properties, shops, commercial establishments and vehicles, while also damaging roads, public infrastructure and the electricity network.
"What matters most right now is the safety of our citizens," he stressed, urging residents to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary to ensure emergency teams could carry out rescue and relief operations without obstruction.
Regarding the government's response, Khoshnaw said Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had contacted him and "stressed that all government resources and capabilities must be utilized to protect citizens' lives."
On compensation for those who suffered losses, Khoshnaw said no decision had yet been made. "We are currently in the middle of the incident, and an assessment of the damages will be carried out later," he said.
He also criticized Baghdad for what he described as its failure to support the Kurdistan Region during previous natural disasters, including the lack of allocated emergency relief funds.
Flash floods are a recurring threat across the Kurdistan Region, particularly during the colder and wetter months.
Last year, flooding triggered by days of heavy rainfall killed five people, injured 19 and damaged 2,225 homes across the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk province, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government's Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC).
In December 2022, flash floods swept through several Erbil neighborhoods, killing 12 people and causing extensive material damage. The disaster came two months after nearly 600 homes were damaged by the season’s first major rainfall in the city.
