After the drought comes the storm: Mass flooding washes away roads and destroys buildings in the first of the winter rains in Kurdistan

• Flash flooding washed away roads and destroyed buildings in Erbil, Kurdistan
• The intense rain and hail on Saturday was ‘unexpected’ leaving many homeless
• Videos on social media show a fast-flowing river washing down main roads

Mass flooding has washed away roads and destroyed buildings in the first of the winter rains in Kurdistan.

Intense rain and hail swept through Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, on Saturday, breaking a season of drought.

Videos of the flash flooding emerged on social media on October 30, showing a fast-flowing river washing down main roads in a number of locations in the Erbil area. 

Officials said several neighborhoods had suffered damage, and many were left homeless by the flood, but there were no casualties reported so far.

Flash flooding on Saturday washed away roads and destroyed buildings in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, with around 150 to 200 houses damaged by the intense weather

A truck driver rescued two women and a man who were trapped in a car by helping them climb out of the sunroof after the flood water rose unexpectedly

Erbil’s governor Omed Khoshnaw estimated that around 150 to 200 houses had been ravaged by flooding as residents began to assess damage. 

On Sunday, senior leaders, including Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, visited families whose homes were hit. 

The premier wrote in a tweet: ‘I visited homes damaged by yesterday’s flash floods in Erbil. Listening to the families’ needs, I reassured them of our utmost support at this time.’ 

Videos of the flash flooding emerged on social media on October 30, showing a fast-flowing river washing down main roads in a number of locations in the Erbil area

 On Sunday, Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, visited families affected by the flooding after many were left homeless, with around 150 to 200 houses affected

 The mass flooding has washed away roads and destroyed homes in the first of the winter rains in Kurdistan, with the premier promising to support the devastated families

A spokesperson for Erbil’s civil protection units, Sarkawt Karash, told Rudaw that while they receive updates from the city had taken precautions, but the level of flooding was ‘unexpected’.

‘What was unexpected for us was the flooding in Zerin neighborhood and Kore village, which sadly has risen a lot on the 150-meter road and has completely covered the street,’ he said. 

Erbil often faces severe floods in the colder seasons of the year and in the past, several neighborhoods have faced severe damages due to floods.

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