Aftermath of quake: Great danger on tunnels, roads in Darbandikhan

DARBANDIKHAN, Kurdistan Region - A powerful quake which hit the town of Darbandikhan in the Kurdistan Region last week is threatening traffic in the mountainous area as a giant rock on Wednesday fell from the Baranan Mountain forcing the closure of its tunnel which connects Sulaimani and Garmian areas.

“The natural disaster that happened in the past few days left a big danger on the Baranan Mountain and Darbandikhan tunnels,” Major Rezhan Burhan, director of Darbandikhan traffic, told Rudaw. “It’s been several days since we expected rocks and rubble to fall on the main road between Darbandikhan and Harmawa.”

The fall of large rocks from mountains to the streets also came when a major rainfall swept across the already quake-hit region last night.

“We have now closed the Darbandikhan tunnel in order to clean the street [from the rubble and rocks]. It’s now been announced that heavy rain will fall during these days,” Burhan added.

He informed drivers to not use the road until  weather conditions improve.

Last week’s tremor which shook the town killed five people, damaged and destroyed more than 120 houses and buildings in the town. This is in addition to the damage caused to the dam located in the town.

The head of Iraq Red Crescent told Rudaw English on Sunday that 10 people were killed, and more than 500 inured in the Kurdistan Region as the result of the earthquake. 

Darbandikhan is a town 65 kilometers south of the city of Sulaimani. It is surrounded by mountains.

Sirwan River from the east and Dewana River from the west flow into the town. The dam is built on Sirwan River. It is also home to two tunnels – one is on the way between the town and Sulaimani, the other one is under the dam.