ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The body of a child who had been missing for hours after being swept away by floodwaters in Sulaimani province’s Kalar district on Wednesday afternoon was recovered, his family confirmed to Rudaw, raising the death toll in the past 24 hours to five.
The deceased, 12-year-old Ayub Ghafur, slipped into the rushing water, his uncle told Rudaw.
His body was found near Sherwana castle, approximately four kilometers from their home, after falling into a manhole, according to Garmiyan civil defense department.
Five people have died in the past 24 hours amid heavy rainfall and flash floods: two in Chamchamal, one in Kalar, both in Sulaimani province, and two in Kirkuk province.
The torrential rain over the past two days has damaged hundreds of homes and businesses across the Kurdistan Region. Authorities warned on Wednesday that rivers and dams continue to see rising water levels, posing ongoing risks.
Flooding has repeatedly caused devastation in previous years. In May 2024, flash floods in Erbil and Sulaimani killed five people.
The Kurdistan Region’s meteorology directorate had warned on Monday that heavy rainfall in Erbil and Sulaimani on Tuesday could trigger flash floods and rapidly rising water levels. Residents in Halabja, as well as the administrations of Soran, Raparin, and Garmiyan, were also advised to prepare for severe rain, with conditions expected to improve by Wednesday.
Authorities remain on high alert as the region continues to recover from the latest wave of severe weather.