SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – The city of Sulaimani is mourning the death of 15 people who died in a gas explosion late Thursday. The funeral service for 14 residents of the city was attended by hundreds of people on Saturday, and the body of one of the victims will be repatriated to Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan).
Hundreds of people attended the service that laid 14 victims to rest at Kalakan Cemetery in Sulaimani.
An explosion and collapse of a house in Sulaimani occurred Thursday as a result of a gas leak following an evening gathering. 15 people were killed and 12 were injured.
The gas explosion, that was the first of its kind in the Region, destroyed a three-floor house and damaged neighboring houses.
Over the course of 17 hours, rescue teams continued to recover people under the debris. Despite the debris, they managed to save the lives of four people.
The Kurdistan Region’s authorities and foreign officials sent condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, said in a tweet on Thursday “my thoughts and hearts are with the families of the victims of tonight’s explosion in Sulaimani.” He will also attend the funeral ceremony of the victims in Sulaimani on Saturday.
بیر و دڵم لای خێزان و که‌سوکاری قوربانیانی ڕووداوی ته‌قینه‌وه‌که‌ی ئیمشه‌وی سلێمانییه. سه‌ره‌خۆشییان لێده‌که‌م، هاوخه‌میانم. خوای مه‌زن گیانی قوربانیان به به‌زه‌یی و میهره‌بانیی خۆی شاد بکات، ئارامی و دڵنه‌وایی به هه‌مووان ببه‌خشێت. هیوای زووچاکبوونه‌وه بۆ برینداران ده‌خوازم.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) November 17, 2022
The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani sent a tweet on Thursday expressing condolences to the victims’ families, adding that he has assigned Sulaimani officials to assist them.
لەگەڵ پارێزگاری سلێمانی قسەم کرد و ڕامسپارد کە دامودەزگاکانی حکومەت، بەدواداچوون بۆ ھۆکاری ڕووداوە دڵتەزێنەکەی ئەمشەوی سلێمانی بکەن و بەھانای زیانلێکەوتووانەوە بچن و ھەرچی پێویست بێت ئەنجامی بدەن.
ھاوخەمی کەسوکاری قوربانییانم و ھیوای چاکبوونەوەی خێراش بۆ برینداران دەخوازم.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) November 17, 2022
Alina Romanowski, US ambassador to Iraq, tweeted her condolences as well.
Our sincere condolences for the tragic loss of life from the gas tank explosion in Sulaymaniya. Our sympathies go out to the families of the victims. We wish a full recovery to the injured and send our sincere appreciation to the rescue workers.
— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) November 18, 2022
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) extended its condolences to the families of the victims, and saluted the rescuers for their tireless efforts.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrific gas tank explosion in Sulaymaniyah that resulted in many casualties. We pay condolences to the families of those who died, wish the injured a speedy recovery, and salute rescuers for their relentless efforts. pic.twitter.com/zm7e8H6rnw
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) November 17, 2022
