Darbandikhan dam overflows as heavy rains boost water levels across Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Water levels across the Kurdistan Region’s dams have surged following days of heavy rainfall, with officials confirming that the Darbandikhan dam in Sulaimani province has overflowed and several others are nearing capacity.

Hiwa Ali, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, told Rudaw on Sunday that the recent precipitation has significantly boosted water reserves across the region. “All small and medium-sized dams have overflowed,” he said.

Ali confirmed that the Darbandikhan dam, the Region's second largest following Dukan dam, is among those that have exceeded capacity. “Water is being released from the Darbandikhan Dam due to the overflow,” he stated, warning residents in vulnerable areas to exercise caution.

He specifically urged people in the Garmiyan area - particularly those living along the Sirwan River down to the Hamrin dam, as well as near waterways in the Little Zab and Taqtaq areas in Erbil's Koya district - to stay away from riverbanks and streams due to rising water levels.

Despite the surge, not all major dams have reached overflow point. Kochar Jamal, director of Dukan dam, told Rudaw, “The Dukan dam has not overflowed yet; however, the water level has risen by 17 meters since the beginning of this year, and the dam is in good condition.”

In Duhok province, water levels are also approaching critical thresholds. Farhad Mohammed, director of Duhok dams, told Rudaw on Sunday, “The Duhok dam is only four meters away from overflowing, but the dams have seen a significant recovery.”

He added that the dam currently holds 41.5 million cubic meters of water out of its 52 million cubic meter capacity, marking a six-meter rise since the start of the year.

Mohammed also noted that three medium-sized dams in Duhok have already overflowed.

The recent surge follows a wave of snow and rainfall that has swept across the Kurdistan Region since last week. Meteorological forecasts indicate that wet weather conditions are expected to persist through the end of the week.

Since late last year, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have seen torrential rainfall, leading to flash floods and overflowing rivers and dams, particularly in Sulaimani and Kirkuk provinces in the north. Officials say the current storage phase, if sustained, could provide much-needed relief after years of acute shortages.