Prime Minister Masrour Barzani Calls for Measures to Prevent Future Erbil Floods

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that authorities were investigating the causes of the deadly flash floods that struck Erbil over the weekend and would take necessary action if negligence was found, while calling for stronger preparations against extreme weather and closer cooperation between residents and emergency services.

Speaking during a meeting at the Erbil Governorate building, Prime Minister Barzani offered condolences to the families of two people killed in the Nov. 7 floods and thanked government agencies, security forces, charities and volunteers for their rescue and relief efforts.

The meeting, attended by Interior Minister Reber Ahmed, Municipalities and Tourism Minister Sasan Othman Awni Habib, Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw and governorate directors general, also addressed damage to affected neighborhoods, assistance to residents and the process of compensating those who suffered losses.

Condolences and Recognition for Rescue Teams

"It is truly sad that that day's unfortunate event caused two people to sadly lose their lives," Prime Minister Barzani said, renewing his condolences and offering prayers for the victims and their families.

The flooding killed a 25-year-old volunteer who was operating his own loader to help residents in Erbil's Seberdan neighborhood. A five-year-old child was also swept away by floodwaters while traveling in a vehicle with his father. The father escaped, but the child was later found dead following a search by rescue teams.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked local administrative bodies and security personnel for their response, singling out Peshmerga members who joined efforts to help residents.

"I saw Peshmerga in uniform rushing to help people and assisting them," he said, describing their actions as evidence of a strong relationship between the forces and the community.

He also thanked the Barzani Charity Foundation and donors who had provided assistance and continued supporting those affected. His remarks recognized the efforts of people who mobilized as floodwaters inundated streets, homes and businesses.

Investigation Into Causes and Possible Negligence

The prime minister said he had requested an inquiry early in the response to determine what caused the flooding and whether any failures contributed to the damage.

"If anyone was negligent, necessary measures will be taken," he said.

If the causes were beyond the authorities' control, he added, they should still be identified so that officials could better prepare for similar emergencies.

Prime Minister Barzani described the extraordinary concentration of rainfall over a short period as difficult to predict or prevent. He noted that cities elsewhere in the world, including in developed countries, have experienced destructive flooding and said natural disasters cannot always be stopped.

However, he did not present the exceptional weather as a reason to abandon preventive work. Instead, he called for serious studies of how Erbil and other cities should adapt to climate change and prepare for extreme events.

He said government departments needed to understand their responsibilities, take the appropriate precautions and coordinate their efforts to reduce harm to residents.

Infrastructure Work and Financial Constraints

Prime Minister Barzani acknowledged that the Region has not been able to deliver all the urban services and infrastructure projects it needs. He linked those shortcomings, in part, to limited financial resources and the pressures created by delayed or withheld budgets and salaries in previous years.

The government had sought to make the best use of the resources available, he said, but those resources had not been sufficient to meet its ambitions or complete every necessary project.

He nevertheless argued that earlier flood-prevention work had reduced the potential scale of the disaster. Waterways had been opened and vulnerable locations prepared in anticipation of flooding, he said, adding that the consequences could have been considerably worse without those measures.

According to Prime Minister Barzani, the latest storm brought an unusually large amount of rain to a particular part of Erbil, which he said appeared to have experienced rainfall of an intensity not previously recorded there, based on the information he had received.

He called for renewed assessments across the city and beyond, with planning that accounts for the possibility of similarly intense rainfall in the future.

Waste Disposal and Public Safety Instructions

A further concern raised by the prime minister was the effect of garbage on Erbil's drainage system. He said discarded rubbish had entered manholes and contributed to blockages, requiring municipal teams to clear them again.

Prime Minister Barzani urged residents not to throw waste onto roads or into drains, stressing that keeping streets clean was one practical way the public could assist municipal workers.

He was careful not to suggest that littering alone explained the floods.

"It is one factor - I don't say all of it, but it can help," he said, referring to the contribution that cleaner streets and unobstructed drains could make.

He also appealed to residents to follow official instructions when authorities issue emergency warnings. People acting without the required training, he cautioned, can put themselves and others at risk even when their intention is to help.

Crowds gathering at incident sites may obstruct professionals trying to carry out rescue work, he added, calling on citizens to make room for specialist teams and comply with safety guidance.

Follow-Up on Losses and Compensation

Tuesday's visit came as the governorate continued addressing the aftermath of Saturday's floods and assessing damage sustained by residents.

Prime Minister Barzani had spoken with Governor Xoshnaw during the emergency on Nov. 7 and instructed authorities to take measures to protect lives and property and assist affected families.

Compensation arrangements were among the issues under follow-up during his visit. The information released about the meeting did not specify compensation amounts, eligibility criteria or a schedule for payments to affected households.

Prime Minister Barzani said the government would continue examining what went wrong and what additional measures were required.

His central appeal was for public agencies and citizens to cooperate so that, if another severe storm strikes, the city is better prepared and fewer people are placed in danger.

This report was updated on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at 11:20am.