WATCH: Heavy rains flood streets of Iraq’s capital

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Baghdad’s municipal authorities warned residents of potential flooding throughout Iraq's capital on Friday, as a result of heavy rains.

Since Thursday night, a blanket of rain has covered Baghdad and many cities in Iraq, despite the lowest level of rain being recorded this year compared to past decades.

Authorities in Baghdad stated that teams of municipal workers were attempting to control the situation by draining rainwater, plus additional measures, to prevent residences from being flooded.

When rainfall increases in the winter months, streets in Baghdad and many other Iraqi provinces often face flooding due to poor efficiency of city sewage systems, made worse by years of neglected maintenance.

In Friday’s statement, Baghdad’s Municipal authority called on people to cooperate with teams dispatched to their neighborhoods to speed up the process of draining rainwater. They also urged people to stay away from towers, power transmission lines, and generators to avoid electrocution.

Photos and videos posted on social media networks show many streets throughout the capital having been flooded. In some areas, infrastructure appears to have been damaged as a result.

Baghdad authorities urged people to limit their use of clean water, stating the excessive consumption of water would cause additional pressure to the sewage network.

They also publicized a dedicated free-call phone number (#5628) for citizens to contact the teams of municipal workers, in the event of emergencies in particular neighborhoods, residences, or businesses.

Editing by Nadia Riva