Landslide kills two in Sulaimani’s Tuni Baba gorge

Erbil, Kurdistan Region - Two people died and a third was injured on Saturday in a landslide in a gorge near the town of Darbandikhan in southern Sulaimani province.

Two mountaineers lost their lives in a landslide at the Tuni Baba gorge, Sulaiman Mohammed, the mayor of Darbandikhan, told Rudaw. He identified the two as Shabang Ibrahim, 23, from Darbandikhan and Binar, from Sharizur.

“The bodies of both mountaineers were taken to Darbandikhan’s emergency hospital by the security and emergency teams,” Mohammed said. They appeared to have suffered head wounds.

A third mountaineer, Mohammed Ibrahim, 27, was injured.

The mayor believes recent heavy rains caused the landslide. The wet weather is expected to continue for a few more days.

Tuni Baba is a gorge located south of the town of Darbandikhan. The narrow and steep valley is a popular tourist destination.