At least two killed as flash floods sweep across Iraq’s Kurdistan region

At least two people have died in severe flooding in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, including one who was killed when heavy rain caused a wall to collapse on them.

Civil defence workers said five people were injured in Sulaimaniyah province, the Iraqi News Agency reported on Tuesday. The two killed were a a 70-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman.

Videos posted on social media showed the effects of flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods, with roads inundated and vehicles left abandoned. Residents waded through water as they attempted to rescue their belongings.

Heavy rain also affected Saudi Arabia, where civil defence workers told people to stay away from affected areas. The Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah cancelled screenings for the day due to the weather.

Storms have hit several areas of northern Iraq since early on Tuesday, disrupting traffic on motorways. Rain is expected to continue across the country until Friday.

Authorities and rescue teams have been put on high alert across Iraq to clear blocked drains and remove water from the streets. The Meteorological Authority has warned of possible flash floods in eastern parts of the country.

Iraq has experienced severe weather in recent years, including record summer temperatures that exceeded 50°C, as well as sand and dust storms.

Desertification is also a major issue in Iraq,