Heavy rains damage Barsireen bridge in Rawanduz
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The pillars of the Barsireen bridge located in Erbil province’s Rawanduz district have been damaged due to heavy rains, Balakayati river’s rising water levels threatening to cause further damage.
Villagers, who use the bridge to move from one village of the Rawanduz area district to another, stressed the importance of repairing the bridge.
“In 2018, due to heavy rains and snow, the river's water level increased and reached the bridge, which collapsed in several parts and damaged the middle pillar,” Shaduman Anwar, a villager, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar on Monday.
“Of course, from today onwards, there will be more problems with the bridge due to the high water level of the river,” Anwar added, emphasizing that “Repairing the bridge is necessary at this point.”
The bridge dates back to the Soran Emirate, a medieval Kurdish emirate established before the conquest of Kurdistan by the Ottoman Empire in 1514.
Hidayat Hussain, head of the Soran Archaeological and Cultural Affairs Department, told Rudaw on Monday that “Damaged archaeological sites should be restored with the same materials they were built with,” adding that a budget is needed in order to start restoring the bridge “as soon as possible,” and ensure its preservation.
The bridge has been renovated once since its construction.
Villagers, who use the bridge to move from one village of the Rawanduz area district to another, stressed the importance of repairing the bridge.
“In 2018, due to heavy rains and snow, the river's water level increased and reached the bridge, which collapsed in several parts and damaged the middle pillar,” Shaduman Anwar, a villager, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar on Monday.
“Of course, from today onwards, there will be more problems with the bridge due to the high water level of the river,” Anwar added, emphasizing that “Repairing the bridge is necessary at this point.”
The bridge dates back to the Soran Emirate, a medieval Kurdish emirate established before the conquest of Kurdistan by the Ottoman Empire in 1514.
Hidayat Hussain, head of the Soran Archaeological and Cultural Affairs Department, told Rudaw on Monday that “Damaged archaeological sites should be restored with the same materials they were built with,” adding that a budget is needed in order to start restoring the bridge “as soon as possible,” and ensure its preservation.
The bridge has been renovated once since its construction.