Mosque roof collapses in Piramagrun, injuring three workers

SULAYMANIYAH — Three construction workers were injured Saturday morning when the concrete roof of a mosque collapsed during construction in Piramagrun, a subdistrict northwest of Sulaymaniyah city.

The incident occurred at the Ali son of Abu Talib Mosque, also known locally as the Mosque of the Talanis, as workers were pouring concrete on the roof. Part of the structure gave way, sending wet cement and debris crashing below.

“Half of the concrete roof suddenly collapsed,” said Mohammed Ali, a witness at the site. “Three workers were injured but were not taken to the hospital.”

Images from the scene show broken boards and heaps of wet concrete. Local residents and volunteers quickly mobilized, bringing shovels and tools to clear debris and stabilize the area. Supervisors said they were working to prevent further damage to the foundation.

“We need people to come clean the mosque and repair the boards and the areas used for pouring the concrete,” one caretaker told 964media. The mosque is being built with support from local donations, and its caretakers warned that delays in repairs could threaten the structural base.

The collapse follows two fatal labor accidents in Sulaymaniyah on Thursday. One worker was electrocuted while repairing an electrical panel at a restaurant, and another was killed in a building collapse in the city’s Raparin neighborhood that injured five others.

Osman Zindani, head of the Construction Workers’ Union, said the electrocution victim had not been wearing protective gloves at the time. The union has recorded 18 worker deaths in the governorate so far this year, citing lax enforcement of safety regulations and a widespread lack of proper equipment.