Families have been left devastated by the floodwaters that flooded roads and buildings in Kurdistan’s first winter rains.
Intense rain and hail were reported in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, on Saturday, breaking a season of drought.
On October 30, social media posted videos showing flash flooding. The footage showed a rapid-flowing river sweeping down main roads at a number of locations within the Erbil area.
Officials stated that several neighborhoods were damaged and that many people were left homeless by floodwaters, but no other incidents were reported.
Flash flooding on Saturday washed away roads and destroyed buildings in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, with around 150 to 200 houses damaged by the intense weather
Erbil’s governor Omed Khoshnaw estimated that around 150 to 200 houses had been affected as residents began to assess damage.
Senior leaders, including Masrour Barzani the Kurdistan Prime Minister, visited families whose homes had been affected by the flooding on Sunday.
In a tweet, the premier said: “I visited homes in Erbil that were damaged by yesterday’s flash flooding.” I listened to the families’ needs and reassured them that we are there for them.
On October 30, social media posted videos showing flash flooding. The footage showed a river that was rapidly washing down main roads at several locations in the Erbil area.
On Sunday, Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, visited families affected by the flooding after many were left homeless, with around 150 to 200 houses affected
The mass flooding has washed away roads and destroyed homes in the first of the winter rains in Kurdistan, with the premier promising to support the devastated families
A spokesperson for Erbil’s civil protection units, Sarkawt Karash, told Rudaw that while they receive updates from the city had taken precautions, but the level of flooding was ‘unexpected’.
He stated, “What was surprising for us was flooding in Zerin neighborhood, Kore village, and which sadly has risen substantially on the 150-meter roadway and has completely covered street.
In the colder months of the year, Erbil is often subject to severe floods. In the past, many neighborhoods suffered severe damage from floods.
After the unexpected floodwaters rose, a truck driver saved two women and one man trapped in a car. He helped them out of the sunroof.