Kurdistan Prime Minister Follows Up on Flash Floods in Erbil, Urges Measures to Protect Residents
Masrour Barzani thanks emergency teams for assisting affected residents and instructs Erbil governor to take all necessary measures to safeguard lives and property following heavy rainfall
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday followed up on the impact of heavy rainfall and flash floods in Erbil and its surrounding areas, urging authorities to take all necessary measures to protect residents, assist affected families, and safeguard public and private property.
On Saturday evening, Barzani held a telephone conversation with Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw to receive an update on the situation in the city and surrounding areas, where heavy rainfall had caused flooding in several neighborhoods.
During the call, the prime minister thanked emergency response and service teams for their efforts to assist residents and those affected by the flooding.
He also instructed the governor to take all necessary measures to provide assistance and protect citizens' lives and property.
The prime minister's follow-up comes as authorities continue responding to the consequences of the unusual rainfall, which inundated several residential areas and caused damage to homes and infrastructure.
Emergency Response Measures
Following the flooding, Xoshnaw announced several measures to address the situation and facilitate emergency response efforts. He declared Sunday, Nov. 8, an official holiday for all educational institutions across Erbil province, covering public and private kindergartens, schools, and universities.
The governor also authorized government department directors to count as leave, rather than absence, the days missed by employees whose homes were flooded or who could not reach their workplaces because of transportation difficulties caused by the heavy rainfall.
Government service personnel and emergency response teams have been instructed to remain on duty and continue assisting affected residents.
Xoshnaw said that although the rainfall had stopped, several neighborhoods and locations across the city had suffered damage, with floodwater entering residential homes.
He added that government teams remained on continuous alert to respond to residents' needs.
Authorities are continuing to assess the impact of the flooding, with efforts focused on protecting residents, assisting affected families, and addressing damage caused by the heavy rainfall.