Flash Floods Kill Two in Northern Iraq as Storms Hit Erbil

Flash floods in northern Iraq have killed two people, The Guardian reported, after severe thunderstorms swept across the region on Saturday. The storms also crossed into neighbouring Iran. Of the affected areas in Iraq, the city of Erbil was particularly badly hit.

Flash floods are sudden, fast-rising waters that follow heavy rain, often within hours. Iraq News reported that overnight flash floods struck Erbil. Streets across the city were inundated after torrential rain fell over a short period.

The rainfall was far heavier than expected. The Guardian reported an estimated 80mm of rain fell in Erbil, against a forecast of 30mm. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes and businesses.

Rudaw reported that a 25-year-old was killed in the flash floods in Erbil, and that a five-year-old child was found dead after them. Rudaw published those reports on November 7.

Erbil is in the Kurdistan Region, a self-governing area in northern Iraq. On November 8, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani held a phone call with Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw to follow up on the flood situation in the city, according to the presidency's website.