ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Authorities in Erbil province’s Soran district have begun working to compensate those whose vehicles were damaged during the weekend’s hailstorm, an official confirmed to The New Region.

Major hail showers swept across Erbil province on Saturday, with Soran district and its outlying areas bearing the brunt of the severe weather. In addition to wreaking havoc on orchards and groves, the storm damaged over 400 vehicles.

“To assess the damages, the Soran Civil Defense has begun registering all the vehicles damaged in the hailstorm,” said Hazhar Hakim, media officer of the Soran Independent Administration, adding that “efforts are made to compensate the affected people.”

Hakim added once the assessment of the vehicle damages has concluded, they will begin assessing the damages suffered by farmers.

The official detailed that locals should approach the relevant authorities to present their damaged vehicles for assessment. 

A local resident waiting in front of the Soran Civil Defense for the registration of his damaged vehicle said the size of the hail “was so big that even covering our cars with blankets could not stop its impacts."

“Three of my brothers’ vehicles were destroyed in the large hailstones. Most of the vehicles in our alley were destroyed,” the Soran local continued.

In addition to material damages, five people suffered head injuries.

Hailstorms of this intensity rarely occur in the Kurdistan Region.