Residents block road in Aghjalar over truck traffic and power outages

SULAYMANIYAH — Residents of Qasrok village in Sulaymaniyah’s Aghjalar subdistrict blocked the main road late Saturday, protesting the continued passage of freight trucks through their area and worsening electricity shortages during extreme summer heat.

Rabar Jawhar, a local resident, said the trucks pose a safety risk and disrupt life at night. “The main reason for blocking the road is the heavy trucks. At night, they pass through our village with bright headlights that disturb residents. It’s dangerous, especially at night when motorcyclists are heading to the fishpond projects,” he told 964media.

Jawhar also cited worsening power cuts and low voltage. “The hot nights have become terrifying. The voltage drops so much that traffic lights shut down, and even cooling fans stop working in this heat,” he said.

Ako Mustafa, director of electricity in Aghjalar, said the outages are due to overuse. “Electricity voltage drops at night due to overuse,” he said. “The Aghjalar power station has shut down more than three times.”

The demonstration follows a similar protest days earlier in Sarkalak village, Erbil governorate, where residents blocked the main Aashti–Taq Taq road over freight traffic and road damage. That closure forced trucks to reroute through Aghjalar.

Iraq has seen a rise in local demonstrations as summer temperatures strain infrastructure and residents face prolonged power outages. Protesters in multiple governorates have cited the government’s failure to address chronic electricity problems and protect residential areas from increasing freight traffic.