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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of people flock to Gofke resort in Zakho administration’s Batifa town every day in order to survive the scorching summer heat, but a lack of lifeguards and warning guidelines puts the lives of those visiting the resort in danger.
Tourists and residents complain about the lack of lifeguards and rescue crews in the Gofke resort, claiming that warning guidelines are also not present.
“The water is 10 meters deep in some places, and the waves are very fast,” Amer Ramadan, a resident who went to Gofke resort with his family, told Rudaw’s Naif Ramadhan on Friday. “This is a tourist destination and many people flock to it, and there should be lifeguards and rescue crews.”
“There are no instructions here and the water is very deep and dangerous, so there must be lifeguards here,” Sabir Ramazan, a resident, told Rudaw on Friday.
However, a few residents voluntarily help the tourists, acting as lifeguards in case of an emergency.
“There are six of us and we are doing it voluntarily, not only here, but in other places as well,” said Ayub Muhsin, a volunteer lifeguard.
People in the summer months flock to rivers and resorts as the weather in the Kurdistan Region gets hotter with electricity supply scarce.
Numerous drowning incidents are reported in the Region every year, especially in July when the temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius.
At least 104 people drowned in the Kurdistan Region in 2022, according to the Region’s general police directorate.
Tourists and residents complain about the lack of lifeguards and rescue crews in the Gofke resort, claiming that warning guidelines are also not present.
“The water is 10 meters deep in some places, and the waves are very fast,” Amer Ramadan, a resident who went to Gofke resort with his family, told Rudaw’s Naif Ramadhan on Friday. “This is a tourist destination and many people flock to it, and there should be lifeguards and rescue crews.”
“There are no instructions here and the water is very deep and dangerous, so there must be lifeguards here,” Sabir Ramazan, a resident, told Rudaw on Friday.
However, a few residents voluntarily help the tourists, acting as lifeguards in case of an emergency.
“There are six of us and we are doing it voluntarily, not only here, but in other places as well,” said Ayub Muhsin, a volunteer lifeguard.
People in the summer months flock to rivers and resorts as the weather in the Kurdistan Region gets hotter with electricity supply scarce.
Numerous drowning incidents are reported in the Region every year, especially in July when the temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius.
At least 104 people drowned in the Kurdistan Region in 2022, according to the Region’s general police directorate.
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