Syrian construction worker dies after fall at Sulaymaniyah construction site

SULAYMANIYAH — A 29-year-old construction worker from Syria died Wednesday after falling from a building at a residential project site near Hawari Shar Park, according to local police and labor officials.

“The worker fell from one of the housing projects near Hawari Shar Park and died,” Sulaymaniyah police spokesperson Sarkawt Ahmed told 964media. He confirmed the man was originally from Syria.

Osman Zindani, head of the Construction Workers Syndicate, said the worker fell from the ninth floor and died instantly. “This is the 19th worker to die on the job in the construction sector this year,” he told 964media.

Zindani blamed the continued fatalities on inadequate oversight and unsafe conditions at large development sites. “These major projects do not meet the minimum safety requirements to protect workers’ lives, and the government has failed to compel companies to comply with safety regulations,” he said.

On July 10, two workers were killed in separate incidents in Sulaymaniyah. One, from Baqubah, was electrocuted while repairing an electrical panel at a restaurant without protective gloves. The other died when part of a building collapsed in the Raparin neighborhood, injuring five others.