Deadly Floods Hit Iraq as Powerful Thunderstorms Sweep Across the Region

By Paul Harrison, Orbis Weather · Nov 9, 2026

Flash floods killed two people in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, after a thunderstorm dumped far more rain than forecast on Saturday evening, November 7. A five-year-old child and a volunteer in his twenties died, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw said. About 300 people were rescued, some from the rooftops of their homes, he said on Sunday.

The governor said about 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) of rain had been forecast. His preliminary estimate was that about 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) fell. Water swept through most of the city’s neighborhoods, from the eastern outskirts toward the center.

The same weather system brought heavy rain across the region. In Gaza, the government media office said at least 70,000 tents used by displaced families flooded within 12 hours.

Where the floods hit

The worst flooding struck Erbil’s eastern districts after the rain intensified at about 7 p.m. local time on Saturday. The governor told Rudaw that most neighborhoods were affected, especially along the 150-Meter Road.

The two victims. A five-year-old child died in New Erbil when the car he was in with his father was caught by the water. His body was later recovered. The second victim was a volunteer who used his own heavy machinery to help residents and was swept away. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani named the two as Mohammed Rasoul and Mustafa Sarkawt in a condolence call, Rudaw reported.

Reports differ on some details of the volunteer. Kurdistan24 gave his age as 25, while Rudaw said he was about 28. Most reports place his death near Hiwa City, but Rudaw’s first report put it in the Seberdan neighborhood.

Damage. The governor described damage to homes, shops, businesses, vehicles, roads and public infrastructure as extensive. No count of damaged homes or cars had been published by Sunday, Kurdistan24 reported. Power cuts near retention ponds disabled the pumps meant to drain them. The governor said the Kasnazan retention pond overflowed in about 90 minutes.

By Sunday afternoon, standing water remained only in New Erbil, the Brayati neighborhood and near Zheen hospital, according to the governorate.

The weather behind the floods

A low-pressure system from the Mediterranean brought the storms, according to the Kurdistan Region’s General Directorate of Meteorology and Seismology. Saturday saw the longest spell of rain. Showers continued Sunday over Sulaimani, Halabja and Garmiyan, with conditions easing on Monday.

Official readings released Sunday show how heavy the rain was across Erbil province over the preceding 24 hours:

These official figures are lower than the governor’s first estimate for the city. Sources: Rudaw, citing the directorate and the governor.

Civil Defence spokesperson Sarkawt Karash said rain was especially heavy in Sulaimani, Chamchamal and the Soran administration, and asked residents not to travel.

Gaza. The rain flooded at least 70,000 tents in 12 hours, the Gaza government media office said, as reported by The National. The office is run by Hamas. Civil defence crews received 1,500 distress calls, and three abandoned houses collapsed. No deaths were reported there.

Iran also saw heavy storms, NewsBytes reported, though no figures were given.

Response and recovery

Erbil authorities closed schools, ordered an investigation into the emergency response and began a cleanup the governor said would take two days. “We will be done with the cleaning in the next two days,” Khoshnaw told a press conference on Sunday, Rudaw reported.

• Schools: Schools and universities in Erbil governorate closed on Sunday, November 8. Sulaimani and Kirkuk also suspended classes, Rudaw reported.
• Investigation: The governor ordered an inquiry into how the flood was handled. Officials found to have failed to act will be held accountable, he said.
• Damage count: A committee working with the Kurdistan Region’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center and the Barzani Charity Foundation will record losses. No decision on compensation has been made yet.
• Cleanup: Zeravani forces joined municipal crews. The irrigation directorate was told to clear canals, bridges and culverts.
• Support: Prime Minister Barzani told the governor that “all government resources and capabilities must be utilized,” according to Rudaw. The United Nations in Iraq said its agencies “stand ready to assist” if asked, Kurdistan24 reported.

The governor also criticized federal funding. He said damage from previous floods exceeded 40 billion Iraqi dinars (about $26.7 million), while only 2 billion dinars were allocated.

A repeat disaster for Erbil

This is not the first deadly flood in the city in recent years. “Unfortunately, once again another disaster has struck the people of our city,” Khoshnaw told Rudaw.

Floods last year killed five people, injured 19 and damaged 2,225 homes across the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk, according to the region’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center, as reported by Rudaw and The National.

The governor pointed to weak spots in the city’s drainage. He cited a “waterway weakness” in the Seberdan area that has no budget for repair. Short, intense bursts of rain can overwhelm retention ponds and channels quickly, as the overflow at Kasnazan showed.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Erbil floods? Two people died: a five-year-old child and a volunteer in his twenties. Erbil’s governor, Rudaw, Kurdistan24 and The National all give the same toll.

How much rain fell in Erbil? Official figures show 70 millimeters (2.8 inches) in the city center over 24 hours. The governor’s early estimate was about 80 millimeters, against a forecast of about 30.

Is more rain expected? The Kurdistan Region’s meteorology directorate expected rain to continue Sunday in Sulaimani, Halabja and Garmiyan, then ease on Monday. Residents should follow local civil defence advice.

Will residents be compensated? No decision has been made. A committee is first assessing the damage to homes, businesses and vehicles, the governor said.

Sources

• Rudaw: One killed, five-year-old child found dead after flash floods hit Erbil (Nov 7, 2026)
• Rudaw: Erbil governor reports extensive property damage after deadly floods (Nov 8, 2026)
• Rudaw: Erbil governor says 300 rescued after deadly floods, pledges cleanup in two days (Nov 8, 2026)
• Kurdistan24: Erbil orders flood probe and damage count as cleanup begins (Nov 8, 2026)
• Kurdistan24: UN expresses condolences over Kurdistan Region floods (Nov 8, 2026)
• The National: Floods kill two in Iraq and swamp tens of thousands of tents in Gaza (Nov 8, 2026)
• NewsBytes: Erbil flash floods kill 2 after 80mm rain (Nov 9, 2026)