ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities across the Kurdistan Region have throughout the weekend maintained caution and preparedness as heavy rainfall is expected to hit the area, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying zones.
The Region’s meteorology department said on Sunday that “weather today will be generally cloudy and rainy, with a rapid increase in wind, a drop in temperature and rainfall across all areas.”
Aso Kamal, former director of the meteorology department in the Region’s eastern Sulaimani province, told Rudaw that “because the weather is unstable and the rainfall is unusual, there is a possibility of flooding and rising water in low-lying areas and valleys, though not across the entire Kurdistan Region.”
He added that “the peak of this wave will be 48 hours on Monday and Tuesday, and during that period there is a greater possibility of flooding in low-lying areas.”
For its part, Erbil’s municipality on Sunday warned against “throwing garbage or waste into drains and manholes or blocking them,” urging residents to report any clogged drainage points and “not allow anyone to dispose of garbage or waste in water drainage channels.”
A day prior, Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw said in a Facebook statement following a meeting with municipal and relevant officials that “to address any potential incidents caused by the rainfall, all necessary preparations have been made.”
Meanwhile, in the Region’s northern Duhok province, water and sewage Director Younis Jano told Rudaw that six teams equipped with machinery have been deployed to flood-prone areas, while the municipal directorate has 25 additional teams on standby, along with civil defense and traffic units.