ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities in Erbil province’s Soran administration warned on Monday that dozens of vehicles, including three tourist buses, are stranded due to heavy snowfall, as rescue teams continue operations amid dangerous weather conditions.
Karwan Mirawdali, Soran administration’s civil defense director, told Rudaw that three tourist buses carrying tourists from Iraqi southern and central provinces and around 50 cars are stuck in the snow, with all roads in the area currently closed.
“Despite the warnings, many people went into the snow. Now three tourist buses of Arab citizens and 50 cars of compatriots are stuck,” Mirawdali said. He added that civil defense teams are working to clear snow, reopen roads, and rescue those stranded.
“We ask our people to protect their own lives and not to travel in the snow, because the roads are dangerous,” he said.
His remarks come a day after 19 people, who had been stranded for two nights in the Lolan highlands near the Iranian border in Sidakan district, were rescued on Monday. The group had gone missing after snow accumulation reached up to two meters in parts of the mountainous area, forcing rescuers to temporarily suspend operations and cutting off access routes.
Sidakan mayor Ihsan Chalabi told Rudaw that all those rescued were safe. “Initially, the information was that there were 21 people, but when they were rescued, it became clear to us that there are 19 people,” he said.