Teen drowns in Khanaqin river during outing with friends

KHANAQIN — A 17-year-old boy drowned Tuesday evening while swimming with friends in the Bajalan River near the village of Aliyawa, Khanaqin, local sources said.

Dr. Shwan Shakir, director of Khanaqin Hospital, told 964media, “The young man was 17 years old and a twelfth-grade high school student. He drowned while swimming and was brought to the hospital.”

According to information obtained from witnesses, the teen remained submerged for nearly 30 minutes before being found trapped under a rock in the river.

A source from the Khanaqin police told 964media that no signs of physical trauma were found on the body, and the death has been classified as accidental.

The body was transferred to Baquba forensic medicine department for further examination. Relatives have not filed any complaints against anyone in connection with the incident.

The case is part of a growing pattern of drownings across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Last week, a 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a farm pool in Basra’s Safwan district.

On June 8, a 21-year-old man drowned while swimming in the Sirwan River near the corniche area in Darbandikhan district, Sulaymaniyah.

With summer temperatures rising, rivers and unregulated pools offer relief for many people—but often at deadly cost. Authorities continue to warn against swimming in unmonitored areas, especially for young people with limited swimming skills.