Search operations continue for 19 trapped after heavy snow in Iraq

At least 19 individuals are stranded across two separate locations in northern Iraq following a severe snowstorm that hit the Soran district in Erbil province. Civil defense authorities confirmed ongoing search and rescue operations on Sunday as a major winter event continues to disrupt the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

Rescue Efforts in Mountainous Terrain

Karwan Mirawdeli, the director of Soran Civil Defense, stated that the fate of eight people herding livestock near the Sidekan border area remains unknown. Search teams are also looking for 11 other identified individuals in nearby mountainous zones. Mirawdeli noted that multiple distress calls have been received from remote mountain passes, with additional groups requesting urgent assistance from emergency services.

Multi-Agency Response to Storm Crisis

A coordinated response involving six specialized rescue teams, supported by traffic police and road maintenance crews, has been deployed across the Soran and Sidan districts. These units have already rescued dozens of stranded motorists and worked to clear blocked roads. The operations come after four people were successfully rescued from the Zozg Mountain area just a day earlier, on Saturday.

Region Gripped by Severe Winter Weather

The incident is part of a broader weather crisis affecting Iraq's Kurdistan Region, which has endured several days of intense snowfall and sub-zero conditions. The severe weather has led to significant traffic disruptions and the forced closure of numerous mountainous roads within Erbil governorate. The region's challenging terrain has compounded the difficulties for both residents and emergency responders during this extreme winter event.