17-year-old boy feared drowned in Greater Zab River in Duhok’s Akre district

DUHOK — A 17-year-old boy is suspected to have drowned on Saturday in the Greater Zab River in Duhok’s Akre district, and his body has not yet been recovered.

Ibrahim Fariq, head of Akre’s civil defense, told 964media that authorities were notified of the drowning, and underwater teams were immediately dispatched to the scene to search for the body.

The teenager, identified as Barzan Omer, was from the village of Hizaia in the Bijili sub-district of Akre. The drowning occurred near the village of Buya in the Greater Zab River.

“This year, there have been three drowning incidents within Akre’s civil defense jurisdiction, with two people rescued,” Fariq said.

This incident is part of a concerning trend in the region. According to statistics from Duhok’s Civil Defense Department, eight people have drowned within the governorate’s borders since the beginning of the year, with over 65 drowning deaths reported across the Kurdistan Region.

Local authorities have repeatedly warned both locals and tourists against swimming in rivers and lakes due to safety concerns, but many continue to disregard these warnings.

The most devastating drowning incident this year occurred in mid-June, when five members of the same family drowned in a village in Sulaymaniyah’s Raparin administration. A child fell into a pond, prompting the father to jump in to rescue him. Three other family members followed, and tragically, all five drowned.

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.