Search ongoing
Teen missing in Greater Zab River
ERBIL — A 14-year-old boy fell into the Greater Zab River Friday afternoon and remains missing, officials say. Diving teams from the Khabaat district and the Kalaak rescue squad are actively searching. across the river.
Raid Amanj Mohammed, head of the Khabaat district diving team, told 964media: “A 14-year-old boy from Khabaat district fell into the Greater Zab River, and the search for his body is ongoing.” He added, “The boy went to the river for swimming, and the search efforts continue.”
In 2024, the Kurdistan Region has experienced numerous drowning incidents. As of mid-2024, over 30 drowning deaths have been reported across the region. These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and public awareness about water safety.
In early May, a young man drowned while swimming in the Amedi district of Duhok. Shortly after, in separate incidents, two teenagers lost their lives in Sulaymaniyah’s Dukan Lake. The following week, a child drowned in a pond in the Halabja area. Later in May, an adult male drowned in the Choman district of Erbil while attempting to rescue a friend.
The beginning of June saw another tragedy when a 16-year-old boy drowned in the Greater Zab River near Erbil.
A few days later, a man in his 30s drowned while swimming in the Sirwan River in Sulaymaniyah. By mid-June, a young girl had drowned in a local reservoir in Duhok.