Falling boulders block main road to Bekhal, Korek tourist destinations

Ongoing heavy rains have caused rockfalls on the main road to Bekhal and Korek Mountain, blocking the way to the these popular tourist destinations in Erbil, local authorities warned on Monday.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Ongoing heavy rains have caused rockfalls on the main road to Bekhal and Korek Mountain, blocking the way to the these popular tourist destinations in Erbil, local authorities warned on Monday.

The road between Khalifan – Bekhal Waterfall, in the northeast of Erbil Province, has been the most affected.

“The closure of the road comes as heavy rainfalls caused boulders to stumble down from the mountain onto the road. We will try to remove them and reopen the busy tourist road as soon as possible,” Barzan Mohammed, Director of Soran Tourism, told Kurdistan 24.

Following heavy rains, rocks could be seen blocking busy roads in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Following heavy rains, rocks could be seen blocking busy roads in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

He called on drivers and tourists visiting Bekhal Waterfall and Korek Mountain to use the Soran – Rawanduz road for the time being.

Following heavy rains, rocks could be seen blocking busy roads in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Following heavy rains, rocks could be seen blocking busy roads in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Over the past week, torrential rain has resulted in floods in different parts of the Kurdistan Region, causing damages to people’s homes and public infrastructure, including bridges.

Editing by Nadia Riva

(Additional reporting by Teyfur Mohammed)