Search continues for missing woman swept away by river in Erbil’s Mergasor district

ERBIL — Search teams in Erbil’s Mergasor district have yet to find the body of 27-year-old Avesta Yousif Barzinji, who was swept away by the Tangatour River a week ago and is presumed drowned.

On Friday, search operations intensified with 60 teams covering a 25-kilometer stretch of the river. Drones and surveillance cameras are also monitoring the banks of the Qandil and Khabat rivers.

“We’re conducting a more intensive search. Sixty teams are participating — using boats, diving teams, and ground search units,” said Karwan Mirawadeli, head of Soran Civil Defense. “We hope to reach a result.”

He said the operation has been hampered by rough currents, low temperatures, and deep crevices and rocks along the riverbed.

In addition to teams from Soran, civil defense units from Erbil, Zakho, Akre, and Khabat are involved in the effort.

Avesta was last seen on April 5. Her father, Yousif Barzinji, told 964media the family had traveled to the area with relatives that morning. Her brother, Hussein, fell into the river, and Avesta jumped in to try to save him. While Hussein managed to pull himself to safety, Avesta was carried away by the current.

“Some bodies in similar accidents have taken 18 days to a month to be found,” Mirawadeli said. “But we hope this time it won’t take that long and we find her sooner.”

At the site, emotions remain heavy as the family continues to wait. On the fifth day of the search, her father — standing at the river’s edge with a white beard and sorrowful face — told 964media that community support has helped ease the burden, but not the pain.

“You can’t measure the heartbreak of a father standing helpless at the edge of a river waiting for his daughter,” he said.

Local residents have stepped in to support the family and rescue teams. Zahir Aziz, a resident, has organized food preparation for volunteers. “Today alone we prepared meals for 300 people,” he told 964media. “Every day, two or three people come to us and say they’re here to help with food. We’ve made a plan — each day, a group prepares meals and distributes them to the grieving family, guests, and civil defense teams.”