ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Major flooding hit Sulaimani province on Tuesday, with western and northern areas affected most severely as heavy rain submerged streets, damaged homes, and stranded vehicles. The province’s traffic directorate urged drivers to avoid several key roads due to “heavy and intense rainfall.”
“In order to protect the safety of drivers and their vehicles, we ask the public to avoid using this road until weather conditions return to normal,” the directorate said, referring to the western Baziyan-Sulaimani road.
Rudaw footage showed severe flooding in Chamchamal district and in the northern town of Piramagrun.
“Traffic police teams in the area are on duty and, according to their responsibilities, are assisting drivers,” the statement added. It also announced the temporary closure of the Tasluja checkpoint, saying the situation remains under monitoring and traffic will resume once conditions improve.
Rudaw has learned that several other roads in the province have been closed.
Flooding in past years has caused deaths, major property damage, and vehicles being swept away.
The Kurdistan Region’s meteorology directorate warned on Monday that a strong rainstorm would intensify across Sulaimani and Erbil on Tuesday, bringing a high risk of rising water levels and flash floods. Administrative units in Erbil, Soran, Sulaimani, Raparin, Garmiyan, and Halabja cities were urged to prepare for significant rainfall. The storm’s impact is expected to ease on Wednesday.
The warning followed widespread street flooding on Monday, which left several vehicles stranded. Authorities across the Region have been on heightened alert since the weekend as heavy rainfall is forecast to hit low-lying areas hardest.
The Kurdistan Region and Iraq are facing their worst drought in nearly a century, with dam reserves below 30 percent. Reduced rainfall and upstream dams in Turkey and Iran have deepened the crisis, forcing some residents - particularly in Sulaimani and Duhok - to leave water-scarce villages.
The government is pursuing emergency projects in Erbil and Sulaimani to improve access to potable water.