Photographs of Erbil captured from the air show the full extent of the government’s total lockdown, imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Rudaw accompanied the Erbil Aviation Team on a helicopter tour of the city on Saturday.
The team works with the city’s traffic department to monitor the enforcement of lockdown measures.
Roads and sidewalks are completely deserted after all vehicle and pedestrian traffic was banned from midday on Saturday.
All businesses were ordered to close for a period of 48 hours. Only a limited number of pharmacies are permitted to remain open.
Health workers, members of the security forces, and media employees are currently exempt from the ban.
Shortly after the unprecedented measures were announced on Friday evening, people flocked to markets and bakeries to stock up.
Now the city is eerily quiet.
Photos by Bilind T. Abdullah / Rudaw