ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Over 60 people have drowned across the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of this year. Dozens have been rescued during this period, the spokesperson for the Region’s general directorate of civil defense announced on Monday.
“Since the beginning of the year, 61 people have drowned in the Kurdistan Region. At the provincial level, the highest number was in Erbil and the lowest in Halabja,” Sarkawt Karash told Rudaw.
He added that they have rescued 117 people from drowning in the last 11 months. The spokesperson also noted that they have done extensive work to reduce drowning incidents. "We have posted more guidelines and our teams reach incident locations quickly."
The bodies of two drowning victims have not yet been found, according to Karash.
"The geography of Kurdistan is different from other areas, and there are many tunnels, holes, and crevices in the water, so sometimes bodies cannot be found,” he explained.
One of the victims who have not been found despite extensive and lengthy search operations is Avesta Yousuf.
The 27-year-old Avesta fell into the Mergasor River in Soran district, around 132 kilometers north of Erbil, while on a picnic with her family on April 5. She had reportedly jumped into the water to save her brother who had fallen in. He survived, but Avesta was swept away by the current. The authorities wrapped up search operations in July.
According to official figures, 64 people drowned in the Kurdistan Region last year. The death toll was 61 in 2023.
The Kurdistan Region’s lakes and rivers draw crowds during the hot summers, yet they tragically claim lives every year due to drownings. Erbil’s Civil Defence Directorate has attributed the fatal accidents to poor swimming skills, unfamiliarity with the terrain, dangerously cold water temperatures and a lack of proper gear like life jackets and inflatables.
Solin Hamadamin contributed to this article.