Drowning incidents surge in Kurdistan Region amid rising temperatures
Karash emphasized that unlike past years, where most victims were from central and southern Iraq, the majority of this year’s drowning victims are from within the Kurdistan Region's provinces and independent administrations.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region has seen a troubling increase in drowning incidents this year, according to Sarkawt Karash, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Civil Defense Directorate. Speaking to Kurdistan24 on Monday, Karash revealed that 69 individuals have drowned in the region’s waters so far this year, marking a significant rise compared to previous years.
Karash emphasized that unlike past years, where most victims were from central and southern Iraq, the majority of this year’s drowning victims are from within the Kurdistan Region's provinces and independent administrations.
In response to the growing number of incidents, the Civil Defense Directorate had earlier implemented safety guidelines at the start of the summer season. Despite these efforts, the region has continued to witness a surge in both fires and drownings.
On June 21, Karash reported a concerning increase in accidents during the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday. A total of 404 incidents were recorded, with 348 related to fires in fields and agricultural lands, and seven cases involving drownings.
The spokesperson attributed the rise in these incidents to a combination of high temperatures, negligence by citizens, and insufficient adherence to civil defense guidelines. The Civil Defense Directorate continues to urge residents to follow safety protocols to prevent further tragedies.
Authorities are now facing the challenge of curbing this alarming trend as they work to protect lives during the region's scorching summer months.
