Iraq hit by flash floods, two dead reported in Sulaimaniyah

Iraqi floods hit after historic drought. / bne IntelliNews

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By bna Cairo bureau December 9, 2025

Heavy rains triggered flash floods across several parts of Iraq on December 9, cutting key roads, inundating homes and causing multiple fatalities, Al Arabiya News reported.

The latest storm is one of several to hit the country this season. It shows Iraq’s growing vulnerability to extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, with authorities warning that infrastructure across many provinces is ill-equipped to cope with sudden surges in rainfall.

Regional media reported the collapse of several buildings and schools in the Jamjamal district after torrential rain swept through the area. Authorities in the Kurdistan Region confirmed that at least two people died in Sulaimaniyah, with additional damage reported across nearby towns.

In the Shorash subdistrict, local official Hawta Aziz said a 70-year-old man was killed when a wall at his home collapsed under the pressure of the floodwaters. The Sulaimaniyah Joint Coordination Centre urged.

The water came in extremely fast; families had only a few seconds to move to safety,” Aziz said, warning that further structural damage may still be uncovered as assessments continue.

The Sulaimaniyah Joint Coordination Centre urged residents to contact emergency numbers in the event of further incidents and said rescue teams remain on alert.

Flooding also disrupted major transport routes. Sections of the Kirkuk–Baghdad, Tuz Khurmatu and Daquq roads were cut, while part of the Baghdad–Mosul highway near the village of Makhoul in Salah al-Din province was submerged, severely affecting traffic and slowing the delivery of goods.

An official from the Salah al-Din civil defence department told local outlets: “These highways are lifelines. When they go underwater, entire supply routes are thrown off.”

In Erbil, the heavy rainfall revived the normally dry Khalee Ali Beg waterfall, which began flowing again after a prolonged drought a striking reminder of the extreme swings between water scarcity and sudden flooding that have characterised Iraq’s recent climate patterns.

Iraq’s meteorological authority warned that unstable weather patterns are expected to continue in the coming days, bringing variable conditions and the possibility of light rainfall in scattered areas.

The UN has repeatedly warned that Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, facing a combination of drought, extreme heat and intensified flooding.