Body of seven-year-old drowning victim recovered in Great Zab River

KHABAT – The body of a seven-year-old child who drowned in the Great Zab River on Sunday was recovered on Monday after more than 15 hours of searching, according to the Erbil Civil Defense. Underwater rescue teams located and retrieved the body.

The child, a resident of Zangala village in Khabat district, Erbil Province, was playing near the edge of the Kalak River with his mother and brother when he fell in and drowned, Zana Namik, an officer at the Khabat Civil Defense Center, told 964Media.

Despite repeated warnings and safety guidelines issued by civil defense directorates advising against swimming in rivers and lakes, many people continue to flock to these areas, especially during the summer. Civil defense data indicate that nearly 60 people, mostly children, have drowned in Kurdistan’s rivers and lakes this year.

The Great Zab, also known as the Upper Zab, is a 400-kilometer-long river flowing through Turkey and Iraq. Since the beginning of this year until late July, 51 people, primarily children, have drowned across the Kurdistan Region. In response, the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre held a meeting last month to review safety protocols, identify high-risk areas, and recommend measures to relevant authorities.

Last year, the Kurditan Region recorded over 100 drowning incidents. Civil defense teams have since intensified rescue operations, saving nearly 70 people in 2023.