Young man drowns in Duhok; civil defense reports three cases this year

DUHOK, Iraq — A 30-year-old man drowned in a recreational area between Sileli and the Dereluk subdistrict in northern Duhok, local civil defense authorities said. Col. Biyar Abdulaziz, head of the Duhok Civil Defense Directorate, said diving teams from Shiladze and Dereluk were dispatched to the scene and recovered the body, which was transferred to the forensic medicine department. Abdulaziz said the incident brought the number of drowning cases recorded in Duhok since the start of the year to three, with the cases spread across the Amadiya and Semel districts. He added that all victims' bodies had been recovered by civil defense teams. The official urged residents and tourists not to swim in waters whose conditions are unknown and to avoid leaving children unattended along rivers and lakes. He said this year's drowning cases were lower than during the same period last year, attributing the decline to greater adherence to civil defense guidance and increased safety awareness.