Body of drowned Erbil man recovered from river in Mergasor

ERBIL — Civil defense teams in Mergasor district, Soran administration, recovered the body of a 29-year-old man from the Dlan River on Saturday afternoon, according to a statement from the Soran Civil Defense Directorate.

The man, identified as Rekar Abdullah, a resident of Erbil and father of three, had been visiting the area for leisure when he drowned while swimming.

“The body was found in the river and transferred to the Ble public hospital,” the statement said.

Local authorities confirmed this is the sixth drowning incident recorded in the Soran Autonomous Administration area so far this year.

As of late July, thirty-two people have drowned across the Kurdistan Region this year, with Erbil governorate recording the highest number of cases, according to civil defense officials.

The overall toll reflects a decrease from the same period in 2024, when 49 drownings were recorded in the first seven months.

Despite repeated warnings from authorities, many residents and tourists continue to swim rivers and lakes to cool off in the summer heat, often underestimating the risks.