Recent floods have isolated 14 villages from Simelan town in Soran's district of Erbil. The flooding has destroyed local utilities including water systems and the electricity, in addition to damages to homes and shops. Locals esimate they will need 2 billion Iraqi dinars (about $1.68 million) for repairs. The town of Simelan lies 90 kilometers northeast of Erbil city. Flooding also caused material and human losses in 2006 here. The KRG spent huge amounts of money to reconstruct the area. But the recent flooding has once again swept things away. Farmers told Rudaw that immense damage has been done to their orchards, pastures, and fields. Damage incurred to the roads and bridges is estimated to be 1 billion dinars alone. The scenic Choman area is a favorite among tourists. "I had set up a tourist spot over there. The flooding swept it away," one local told Rudaw.
