ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s civil defense on Monday announced that it has complete preparations to tackle floods and torrential raids ahead of the winter season.

Flash floods during the fall and winter seasons are common in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, typically causing significant damage and casualties at times. The situation is exacerbated by poor infrastructure and inadequate sewage systems. 

“The directorate’s preparations for the winter season are linked to ensuring the safety of citizens when using heating devices, paying special attention to confronting the effects of rains and winds and the flooding that may result in residential areas, as well as avoiding floods in low-lying areas,” civil defense spokesperson Nawas Sabah Shaker told state media. 

The directorate urged citizens to follow safety measures, stressing that its plans this year include “new improvements.”

“These modern tools will enhance the directorate’s ability to respond effectively and handle emergencies more decisively,” Shaker said, adding that advanced rescue and firefighting aircraft will be included in Iraq’s winter emergency plan for the first time. 

Authorities also plan to issue new public safety guidelines for citizens, including storing heating fuel away from fire sources and electrical points, keeping heaters out of children’s reach, checking electric heaters regularly, and avoiding overloading electrical circuits.

In March 2024, heavy rainfall caused flash floods in Duhok and other parts of Iraq, disrupting roads and trapping residents. 

Iraq is among the world’s most flood-prone countries, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), warning that poor infrastructure and the country’s location along the Tigris and Euphrates makes many communities highly vulnerable.