Body of missing 10-year-old found in Small Zab River

ERBIL — The body of a 10-year-old boy who drowned last week in the Small Zab River near Kleisa village has been recovered by local civil defense teams from Koya.

Goran Ahmed, director of Koya’s Civil Defense, confirmed the discovery to 964media, “shortly ago, the body of the boy who fell into the Small Zab River last Thursday in Kleisa village was found,” Ahmed said. “The recovery was carried out by divers and civil defense teams from Koya.”

The boy, who was diagnosed with autism, had traveled with his family on Nov. 21, for a recreational visit to his grandfather’s house in Kleisa, located in Koya District, 41 kilometers from the district center. During the trip, the child accidentally fell into the river and was swept away by the current.

Earlier in the day, Asso Mustafa, the district administrator of Taqtaq, told 964media that the water level of the Small Zab River was being lowered to aid rescue teams in their search. “Today, we decided to reduce the water level of the Small Zab to facilitate the work of divers and civil defense teams from Koya, Taqtaq, and other supporting teams,” Mustafa said.