Magnitude 4 earthquake hits Sulaymaniyah's Chamchamal district

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — A magnitude 4 earthquake struck Chamchamal district and surrounding areas in Sulaymaniyah province in the early hours of Friday morning. Local officials said the epicenter was located near the village of Karatamur. The tremor caused wall cracks in many homes and businesses, partial wall collapses at several commercial sites, and damage to a few vehicles. It sparked panic across the district, and residents evacuated their homes to spend the night in open areas. Some people fired shots into the air to speed up the evacuation of nearby buildings, and one person was injured in the process. Hours after the quake, residents remained reluctant to re-enter structures due to fear of aftershocks. Footage shared from the scene reflected the public unease and ongoing anxiety in the area.