ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A truck collided with a bridge in Gali Ali Bag canyon early Friday morning, damaging the structure and blocking a key route between Erbil and Soran's independent administration. “This bridge… is not useable anymore. It must be removed and rebuilt completely,” Karwan Mirawdaly, head of Soran Civil Defense, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar. “The truck came extremely fast,” Mirawdaly said, adding that the driver said he tried to slow down approximately 200 meters before reaching the bridge. Following inspections, authorities determined that even small cars can no longer safely use the bridge. Civil defense and police teams are working to redirect drivers via alternate routes, but traffic congestion is expected, especially with increased travel ahead of New Year celebrations. “This is a very bad time,” Mirawdaly said. The Kurdistan Region is considered Iraq’s main tourism hub. With moderate summer weather and cold winters, it welcomes Iraqi and international tourists throughout the year. The regional tourism board is projecting that over 300,000 tourists will visit for New Year celebrations.
