Two teenagers drown in Khabur River, third deaths at site in four days

ZAKHO — Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of two 16-year-old boys from the Khabur River early Sunday, marking the third drowning in four days at the popular river site in Zakho.

The teenagers had been reported missing late Saturday evening. Their bodies were discovered shortly after midnight by civil defense teams. Authorities believe the pair had gone swimming and were overwhelmed by the river’s current.

“At first, the boys couldn’t be found, so we began searching along the banks of the Khabur,” said Jamal Hassan, head of Zakho’s civil defense department. “We searched for two hours before we found their clothes near the river and then recovered both bodies from the water.”

Hassan said the two victims were found in the same location, indicating they likely entered the river together. Their bodies were transferred to the forensic medical unit for further examination.

The incident follows a drowning on Friday, when an Arab tourist from one of Iraq’s western governorates died while swimming in the Khabur. That case was the first recorded drowning in Zakho this year. With Sunday’s recoveries, the toll has risen to three in a single weekend.

The Khabur River flows through Duhok governorate and into Zakho near the Turkish border. Its cooler temperatures and scenic banks attract both locals and tourists during the summer, but officials have repeatedly warned of its swift currents and uneven depths.