Mosul tourist drowns in Khabur River, Zakho Civil Defense reports

ZAKHO — A young tourist from Mosul drowned in the Khabur River in Duhok’s Zakho district on Friday, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the village of Gufke, a popular tourist spot. The victim, an 18-year-old from Mosul, drowned in the river. Zakho Civil Defense teams recovered the body and transferred it to Zakho Forensic Medicine.

“Our teams were able to recover the young man’s body and rescue another youth who was his companion. The necessary measures were taken for the rescued individual,” Jamal Hasan, director of Zakho Civil Defense, told 964media.

According to Zakho Civil Defense statistics, 13 people have drowned in the area this year. The body of a five-month-old child who drowned earlier this year has yet to be recovered.

As of July 25, 51 individuals, mostly children, have drowned in the Kurdistan Region this year.

“We advise residents to stay away from rivers and not to swim in lakes if they are not confident swimmers,” Sarkawt Karash, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Kurdistan Region, told 964media.

Earlier this month, the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre in the Kurdistan Region convened to address the rising number of drowning incidents involving both residents and tourists. Following a review of existing safety protocols and high-risk locations, the center made several recommendations to the relevant authorities.

Last year, more than 100 drownings were recorded across the Kurdistan Region. In response, civil defense teams have intensified rescue operations, saving nearly 70 people.

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