Worker injured in early morning incident at Marina housing project as tire explodes

SULAYMANIYAH — A 27-year-old construction worker from Ranya was seriously injured early Thursday when a loader tire exploded at a housing project site in Kalar, just before the workday began.

The incident occurred at the Marina Corniche and housing project while the worker was sitting next to the loader. The tire burst unexpectedly, causing severe injuries.

Mohammed Sheikh Aziz, spokesperson for the Marina company, told 964media, “Around 5 a.m., before workers had started their shift, the loader driver was inflating a tire when it suddenly exploded. A worker sitting nearby was seriously injured.”

Rafiq Qadir, director of Shahid Hajar Emergency Hospital, confirmed the worker’s condition. “He was severely injured and received initial treatment, but due to the seriousness of his condition, we transferred him to Sulaymaniyah for further care and closer observation,” he said.

The incident is not the first of its kind. In recent months, tire explosions during inflation have led to deadly outcomes in Iraq. On November 18, 2024, a young mechanic died in Kalar after a truck tire burst while he was replacing it. Rizgar Latif, director of Shahid Hajar Emergency Hospital, said the victim arrived in critical condition and could not be saved. Another fatal case occurred on March 4, 2025, in Basra’s Hamdan Industrial area, where a man in his twenties was killed instantly after a truck tire exploded, with surveillance footage showing the force of the blast throwing him several meters.