Heavy rainfall forces village evacuation in Kurdistan Region as dam overflows
The Bawashaswar Dam, with a capacity of 6 million cubic meters, has overflowed for the third time in 2024, following a previous overflow on March 25.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Persistent heavy rainfall across the Kurdistan Region has forced the complete evacuation of Ain Shukr village in the independent Germian administration area, as the Bawashaswar Dam overflows for the third time this year.
All 20 families residing in Ain Shukr, which falls under the Jabara municipality in Kifri district, have evacuated their homes due to rising water levels in the adjacent stream, Kurdistan24 reports. Residents feared potential flash floods as the region experiences significant precipitation.
The Bawashaswar Dam, with a capacity of 6 million cubic meters, has overflowed for the third time in 2024, following a previous overflow on March 25. The latest surge comes amid widespread rainfall affecting the provinces of Sulaimani, Halabja, and the Germian administration area.
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According to the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Transportation and Communications, varying levels of rainfall were recorded across different areas of the Kurdistan Region over the past 12 hours:
Highest Rainfall Records (in millimeters):
- Halabja: 41.2
- Darbandikhan: 37.2
- Penjwen: 34.0
- Sulaimani: 24.8
- Kirkuk: 21.8
Other Notable Measurements:
- Duz: 18.8
- Bazian: 14.4
- Maydan: 13.8
- Khanaqin: 10.8
- Chamchamal: 10.2
Several other locations recorded lesser amounts, with measurements ranging from 0.2 mm in Barzan to 9.8 mm in Halsho.
The Bawashaswar Dam, a crucial water management infrastructure in the Germian region, serves as an important indicator of water levels in the area. Multiple overflows within a single year highlight the increasing frequency of extreme weather events affecting the region.