PM Barzani Offers Condolences to Families of Erbil Flash Flood Victims

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday offered his condolences to the families of two people who lost their lives in the flash floods that struck Erbil on Saturday night.

Prime Minister Barzani telephoned the families and relatives of Mohammed Rasul and Mustafa Sarkawt to express his deep sympathy and condolences over their loss.

Meanwhile, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, representing the prime minister, attended the two condolence ceremonies and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.

Severe flash floods swept through Erbil on Saturday night following torrential rainfall that significantly exceeded initial meteorological forecasts.

Although authorities had initially predicted approximately 30 millimeters of rainfall, nearly 80 millimeters fell on the city, inundating streets and major roads and turning several thoroughfares into fast-flowing waterways.

Local authorities confirmed that two people had died in the flooding.

One victim was a five-year-old child who was swept away by floodwaters from a vehicle in which he was travelling with his father. While the father managed to escape, rescue teams recovered the child's body following an intensive search operation.

The second victim was a 25-year-old volunteer who lost his life while attempting to rescue people stranded by the floods. He had brought his own front-end loader to help evacuate people but was swept away by the powerful currents.

The flooding caused extensive damage and disrupted daily life across Erbil, prompting rescue teams and relevant authorities to respond to the emergency.