Slemani — Authorities in Halabja Governorate have temporarily closed the Ahmadawa resort to visitors on Thursday as rescue teams continue searching for the body of a 12-year-old girl who is believed to have drowned at the popular tourist site.
In an urgent notice issued on Wednesday, the Halabja Governorate’s media office announced that tourists will not be permitted to visit the resort on June 11, stating that all rescue and emergency resources are currently dedicated to the ongoing search operation.
“The Ahmadawa resort will be closed to tourists tomorrow,” the statement said, citing the need to facilitate search efforts and ensure the safety of rescue personnel.
The search has been underway for two days after the girl, who was visiting the resort with her family, went missing on Tuesday. The child, an Arab tourist from the southern Iraqi province of Karbala, reportedly disappeared during a family trip to the area.
According to local reports, a pair of the girl’s slippers was later found near the edge of the Zalm spring, raising concerns that she may have fallen into the water.
Since then, civil defense teams, local authorities, and residents have been conducting extensive search operations in and around the spring. Local volunteers with strong swimming skills have also joined the effort to assist rescue teams.
As of Wednesday evening, authorities had not announced any breakthrough in the search, which remains ongoing.
Ahmadawa, located in the mountainous areas of Halabja Governorate, is one of the Kurdistan Region’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the summer season. Authorities have urged the public to comply with the temporary closure until rescue operations are completed.
