ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Flash floods hit several districts in Sulaimani province on Tuesday following hours of heavy rain, causing significant damage in Chamchamal and resulting in at least two deaths.

Floods raged through the streets of Chamchamal, Tainal, Takia, and Bazian, sweeping away dozens of cars and causing heavy material damage, particularly in Chamchamal.

Hawta Aziz, director of Chamchamal’s Shorsh subdistrict told The New Region that a man in his 70s died after the rapidly-moving muddy waters caused a wall to collapse on him.

Aziz added that the floods were unexpected, stating that “we did not account for this amount of rain [or] the arrival of this flood.”

The Chamchamal mayoral office said that at least two people have died and four others have been injured as a result of the floods.

Kurdistan Region Health Minister Saman Barzanji confirmed to The New Region that at least two people have so far died as a result of the flash floods in the distrcit, adding that at least one other person is in critical condition.

“The data we have is preliminary. There definitely are other cases,” said Barzanji.

Chamchamal’s Shahid Peshraw Hospital said that at least five people were injured, with two in critical condition.

Footage circulating online showed neighborhoods submerged in muddy flood water, with cars and other personal property being swept away. Several roads leading to Chamchamal have also been blocked by the rain.

Additionally, walls of several schools have reportedly collapsed due to the floods, Abdullah Hama, Director of Education in Chamchamal, told The New Region, noting that no student has been injured.

“Announcing a holiday does not change the situation, and local administrations have been instructed to remain on standby in case road closures persist,” Haval Abubakir, Sulaimani’s governor told The New Region.

“We had already informed all sides of the risk of flooding, and now all our teams have been deployed to coordinate and assist citizens,” Abubakir added.