On Thursday morning, March 26, Mohammed Othman was swept away while attempting to cross the Shor River on his way back to his home in the village of Tarjal, located in the Laylan sub-district of Kirkuk Province. His motorcycle broke down in the rising waters, and the current pulled him away.
The body of Othman, 23-years-old, father of a three-month-old infant, commuted daily to work by motorcycle, was recovered Saturday morning March 28, 2026.
The flooding followed heavy rainfall across the region. By Thursday afternoon, civil defense teams had begun searching for him within the flood-affected village of Rajibat.
Kirkuk, March 26, 2026: The Shor River waters that swept away Mohammed Othman. KirkukNow
Kirkuk, a northern city rich in oil resources, is home to approximately 1.77 million residents, including Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen. Situated about 238 kilometers north of Baghdad, it is a diverse province that has long been disputed between Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Local resident Nawzad Majeed said, “Witnesses saw the young man being overtaken by the strong floodwaters. Last year, an Iraqi army soldier lost his life in the same river after his vehicle became stuck and was swept away. His body was recovered four days later.”
Amid widespread heavy rainfall across Iraq, the government declared a nationwide holiday and instructed civil defense teams to remain on high alert for emergencies, including flooding. Locals were also advised to avoid rivers and streams for their safety.
