Erbil Deputy Governor Outlines Flood Damage Assessment and Compensation Plans

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Erbil authorities have formally registered 171 vehicles damaged by last weekend's flash floods as specialized committees continue assessing losses across the city, Deputy Governor Hemn Qadir said on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, emphasizing that compensation will be considered after the assessments are completed.

Speaking to Kurdistan24's Gulabax Behrami, Qadir said the immediate priority is to document damage accurately before determining what assistance the government can provide. As in previous years, he said, authorities intend to compensate residents for part of their losses according to available financial resources.

The 171 vehicles are those registered so far by the committee examining flood-related vehicle damage. The figure is not a final count of all vehicles affected, nor does it represent the overall cost of the flooding.

Documented Losses

Since Monday, Nov. 9, a joint assessment operation involving the Barzani Charity Foundation, the Erbil Governorate's Crisis Response Center and representatives of district administrations has been recording damage caused by the heavy rainfall and resulting floods.

A specialized team is examining vehicles damaged by rising water and accumulated rain. Its members include mechanical engineers, technical specialists from the governorate's vehicle department, legal representatives and other staff responsible for evaluating the condition of affected vehicles.

Qadir said the purpose of this arrangement is to produce accurate assessments and safeguard the legal rights of residents seeking compensation.

The vehicle committee is continuing to register and review cases and will remain at work until all vehicles covered by the assessment process have been examined.

The broader damage registration effort is being overseen through a committee chaired by Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw. Its work is intended to establish the extent of residents' losses before decisions are taken on government compensation.

No final estimate of total damage or specific compensation rates was announced in Saturday's update. Qadir did not identify a date when assessments would conclude or when eligible residents might receive payments.

Deadly Flood

The assessments follow the severe rainfall and hail that struck Erbil on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 7, turning streets in several neighborhoods into flood channels and sending water into homes and vehicles.

Two people lost their lives in the flooding. One was a five-year-old child swept away by floodwaters. The other was a young loader operator who had gone to help people trapped by the rising water and died during the rescue effort.

Beyond the deaths, the flooding caused material losses for residents whose homes were inundated and whose vehicles were submerged. The full cost remains undetermined while teams continue their inspections.

The disaster prompted emergency work by local authorities and volunteers, followed by efforts to record damage and determine how affected households could be assisted.

Compensation after Assessment

The deputy governor's remarks clarify the sequence authorities intend to follow: first establish the damage, then consider partial compensation according to government resources.

That means registration of a damaged vehicle does not itself confirm a compensation amount or payment date. Technical and legal assessments are intended to provide a documented basis for subsequent decisions and help ensure that claims are handled fairly.

The work remains ongoing a week after the floods. For residents waiting to learn what assistance they may receive, the next step is completion of the damage assessment, which officials say will continue until the affected vehicles have been registered and evaluated.