Peregraf- The Kurdistan Region’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) announced significant casualties and widespread damage following heavy rainfall and flooding over the past 24 hours, confirming that two people lost their lives, one person remains missing, and another is in unstable condition after being rescued with severe shortness of breath. The floods also swept away and damaged dozens of vehicles, in addition to causing extensive material losses across multiple governorates.
According to the JCC’s preliminary assessment issued on December 9, 2025, the impact of the storm varied across the Kurdistan Region, with the most severe damage recorded in Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal, parts of Garmian, and areas of Kirkuk.
In Erbil Governorate, 25.6 millimeters of rain fell on December 8, resulting mainly in water accumulation in several neighborhoods. Six houses were flooded in Qaritagh village of the Shamamik sub-district.
Sulaymaniyah Governorate experienced the heaviest rainfall, with 61.3 millimeters recorded on December 8. While no damage occurred that day, torrential rains struck the city and surrounding areas on Tuesday afternoon, flooding several houses and a school in the Raperin neighborhood. More severe flooding was reported in Chamchamal and the sub-districts of TaKiyya and Shorish, where four hours of intense rainfall caused major destruction. Several neighborhoods, homes, shops, and warehouses were inundated. The Sulaymaniyah–Chamchamal and Kirkuk–Chamchamal roads were closed, leaving hundreds of people stranded at checkpoints. Electricity was cut off in Chamchamal, and internet services were disrupted.
In Duhok Governorate, rainfall reached 23.6 millimeters, but no significant damage was reported.
In Halabja Governorate, approximately 54 millimeters of rainfall was recorded, causing minor blockages in water channels but no major damage.
In Kirkuk Governorate, 26.7 millimeters of rain fell, causing water to enter a school in the Shorawa neighborhood. In the Lailan sub-district, a bridge in Bayanlu village was washed away, forcing the closure of the Kirkuk–Lailan road. A seven-year-old child drowned due to rising water levels, with the body recovered at Lailan Hospital. Emergency teams have been unable to fully assess material losses due to impassable roads.
The Garmian Administration reported no major damage from the earlier rainfall, but heavy afternoon rains on December 9 caused extensive flooding in Rizgari sub-district. Several shops, markets, and homes suffered material losses, and the road connecting Kalar and Rizgari was cut off.
In the Soran Independent Administration, 25.6 millimeters of rain fell, but heavy snowfall in border areas, particularly at the Zait and Haji Omaran crossings, caused a collision between two trucks. Snow covered the Sidakan mountains and much of the Balakayati area up to Choman. A landslide in Qasre town caused a house to collapse.
The Zakho Administration recorded 13 millimeters of rainfall, with no significant damage reported. However, the water level of the Khabour River rose dramatically from 95 to 205 centimeters and is being closely monitored.
In the Raperin Administration, 84 millimeters of rain fell, raising the water level of the Lesser Zab River and flooding several homes in the Haji Awa district. Heavy snowfall in the Kele border area created traffic difficulties for drivers.
The JCC emphasized that these findings are preliminary and that assessment teams continue to survey affected areas as weather conditions evolve.