(8 May 2024)
IRAQ DAM
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 3:03
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq – 5 May 2024
1. Various of water released from Darbandikhan Dam in Sulaymaniyah
2. Various of water released via spillway
3. Water pouring into river at the end of the dam
4. Various of dam directorate building situated over the dam
5. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Saman Ismael, director of Darbandikhan Dam in Sulaymaniyah:
“A huge intake (of water) has entered the Darbandikhan Dam as a result of recent rainfall. So we decided to open some of the gates which are known as spillways to release water and keep the balance in the dam between intake and release of water. As mentioned, the surrounding areas around Darbandikhan Dam are agricultural areas. Praise be to God, we’ve managed the flood waves and the dam will be filled up in the coming few days.”
6. Road built on the dam structure
7. Water released through dam spillway
8. Various of released water
9. Various of fast flowing water at end of dam
10. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Maher Hama Salih, owner of tourist resort near Darbandikhan Dam:
"Because of the rainfall and the nice weather, we expect a large number of Arabs as well as locals from Sulaymaniyah and all around the area to come in and see this waterfall. I mean once they started to release the water, people from all over the area would come to film it. It offers a picturesque view for photos and videos, especially from our place which is near this waterfall at Darbandikhan Dam.”
11. Dam structure between mountains
12. Various of stream formed by released water
13. Resort built near the dam
14. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Rabab Abdullah, tourist from Baghdad:
"The mood here is really nice. Today, we came here to the northern part, to Darbandikhan in Sulaymaniyah to picnic. The atmosphere is beautiful after the rainfall. The higher the water goes, the nicer the weather is. It is all about nature here and the spaces here are beautiful. They include a pool, areas to lounge in and grill food, and it overlooks the waterfall. It is all wonderful."
15. Various of water reservoir at Darbandikhan Dam
STORYLINE:
Huge amounts of water are being released from a dam in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq to prevent an overflow as rainfall pushes water levels up.
The water released from Darbandikhan Dam in Sulaymaniyah is meant to relief pressure on the structure as more rain is expected in the coming days.
“A huge intake (of water) has entered the Darbandikhan Dam as a result of recent rainfall. So we decided to open some of the gates," said Saman Ismael, the director of the dam.
He said there had been nearly 100 millimeters of rainfall in the area in 48 hours.
That leaves only 25 millimeters before the dam starts to overflow.
The dam has the capacity to hold up to three billion cubic meters of water and has seen overflows before in the 60 years since it was established.
The dam that sits on the Diyala River had not been getting a lot of its water from rainfall in recent years because of a drought that has affected Iraq.
The excess water this year is creating some foot traffic in the area as water gushing out of the dam creates scenic views.
"Once they started to release the water, people from all over the area would come to film it. It offers a picturesque view," said Maher Hama Salih, the owner of tourist resort near Darbandikhan Dam.
"The higher the water goes, the nicer the weather is. It is all about nature here," said Rabab Abdullah, a tourist from Baghdad.
AP video shot by Adnan Ahmad
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