Body of missing man found in Shirqat following drowning

SALAH AL-DIN — The body of a 24-year-old man who had been missing for two days was recovered Thursday from a water source near the Tigris River in Shirqat district, local sources said.

The victim, identified as Hussein Jamil from Hillah, had been working with about 15 other laborers on a government project in Shirqat for nearly a month. Two days earlier, he told colleagues he was exhausted and wanted to rest but never returned. His friends, family and security forces began searching for him.

Search efforts ended Thursday when his body was found and transferred to Shirqat District Hospital. Abdullah Munim, from the hospital, told 964media that Jamil had entered the water to swim but appeared too fatigued to save himself, leading to his drowning.

Local authorities in Salah Al-Din had already banned swimming in large stretches of the Tigris River on Aug. 18 following a rise in drowning cases. Police urged residents to avoid entering the water, particularly in areas marked with warning signs.

With summer heat intensifying, many Iraqis turn to rivers and dams to cool off, but drowning remains common, especially among young people with limited swimming experience who underestimate river currents and deep water.