Iraq reports rising river inflows, contains oil spill in Tigris

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources said Friday that water inflows to the Tigris, Euphrates and Diyala rivers have increased following recent rainfall and floods, raising storage levels in dams and reservoirs and boosting river discharges.

In a statement received by 964media, the ministry said the higher inflows contributed to “raising water storage levels in dams and reservoirs, and increasing the quantities of water released into river channels.”

The ministry said it is implementing “an integrated operational and storage plan to absorb these waves,” aimed at maximizing water reserves and compensating for shortages caused by years of drought, while maintaining a balance between storage and releases to ensure smooth water flow.

It also noted receiving information from Turkey indicating increased releases from Turkish dams into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The ministry said its technical teams are fully prepared to manage the inflows “with high efficiency,” adding that the measures will support water storage, revive marshlands and improve the environment of the Shatt al-Arab.

Authorities urged residents, particularly those living near riverbanks or occupying protected river zones, to follow safety measures and stay away from river channels and embankments.

The ministry called for “removing violations and obstacles that obstruct water flow,” warning that such encroachments could hinder the passage of flood waves.

Separately, the ministry said it detected an oil spill in the Tigris River in Baiji district, Salah al-Din governorate, on April 1, caused by a leak between Salah al-Din and Kirkuk that was carried into the river by floodwaters.

It said response teams, in coordination with North Oil Company, “contained the spill and cut off the source of leakage within less than four hours,” describing the quantity as very limited.

The pollution was confined and treated near the Samarra Barrage, “without recording any impact toward Baghdad,” the statement said.

As a precaution, water supplies between Baiji and the Samarra Barrage were suspended for 10 hours before distribution resumed after treatment.