Rain floods Kirkuk’s Shoraw neighborhood, submerges homes and vehicles

KIRKUK — Heavy rainfall overwhelmed parts of the Shoraw neighborhood in Kirkuk on Monday, with floodwaters seeping into at least a dozen homes and partially submerging three vehicles, residents said. They blamed poor drainage systems for the recurring problem.

“Every time it rains heavily, this problem happens again,” one resident told 964media, describing how water accumulates when the drainage infrastructure fails to divert runoff. Another neighbor echoed the frustration, saying, “There was no financial loss, but this happens every year. The neighborhood’s drainage system cannot handle large amounts of rain.”

According to locals, the area experiences flooding almost annually due to inadequate water runoff. In response to the latest incident, Kirkuk’s civil defense teams and drainage services were deployed to pump out water and prevent further damage.

Late last year, heavy downpours also caused water to pool in the Shoraw area, affecting more than 15 homes and a school. Similar issues have surfaced recently across Iraq; on Friday night, intense rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems in Baghdad, leading to widespread street flooding and prompting emergency measures. Meanwhile, officials in Wasit province suspended public services Sunday because of similar waterlogging concerns.