Experts to inspect Darbandikhan Dam in Kurdistan after being damaged by earthquake

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A budget has been set to rebuild and repair damaged properties following Sunday’s powerful earthquake in the Kurdistan Region, a top Kurdish official said on Tuesday.

A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake Sunday night rocked the border areas between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhelat), killing over 400 people and injuring more than 7,000 on both sides.

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, along with other ministers, on Tuesday visited Darbandikhan and other surrounding areas damaged by the earthquake.

“We visited the Darbandikhan Dam and saw that it was damaged, but there is no risk of collapse,” Barzani told reporters.

He mentioned that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had been in contact with the EU and other international organizations to send experts to investigate the earthquake’s damage to the Darbandikhan Dam and begin the necessary measures to repair it.

The dam is a multi-purpose embankment on the Sirwan River in southern Sulaimani Province. It was constructed between 1956 and 1961. The purpose of the dam is irrigation, flood control, hydroelectric power production and recreation. 

Barzani also noted that administrations in the area are entrusted to report the estimated damage caused by the earthquake so the KRG can compensate them.

He extended his condolences to the victims’ families in the Kurdistan Region and Rojhelat.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany