Body of Kurdish woman found months after Erbil river accident

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The body of a 27-year-old Kurdish woman, who was swept away by a river in Erbil months ago in April, has been found north of the Kurdish capital city, her father told Rudaw on Sunday.

Avesta Yousuf’s body was reportedly “found in the Great Zab River near Harir district,” north of Erbil, her father told Rudaw.

“This is my daughter’s body,” he confirmed with distress.

The father added that “the body was found wearing the same clothes seen in the last known photograph of Avesta taken on the day of the accident.”

Later on Sunday, Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw confirmed that the body of Avesta “has been recovered.” The announcement followed a forensic medical examination.

Avesta, a resident of Erbil had gone on a family picnic to Mergasor district, north of Erbil on April 5. While there, her brother fell into a nearby river, and when she tried to rescue him, she also fell into the water, according to family members.

She had been missing ever since.

An eyewitness, Yousuf Ahmed, earlier told Rudaw that she was discovered along the riverbank.