Nearly two months after two young cousins vanished beneath the waters of the Sirwan River in Diyala province, rescue teams continue the Sirwan river search as families cling to fading hope along the riverbank.
Five year old Ilyas Yasin and his four year old cousin Adam disappeared near Jalawla in Khanaqin district. According to relatives, the boys slipped into the river during a brief moment without supervision. What began as an ordinary afternoon quickly turned into tragedy.
Family members say the children rode their bicycles toward the water. Within minutes, they vanished beneath the current. Since then, their parents and relatives have returned daily to the same stretch of river.
Ilyas’s father, Yasin Karim, described the pain of waiting without answers. He said the family only lost sight of the children for five minutes. Nevertheless, that short gap changed their lives forever.
For fifty days, local authorities and volunteers have combed the river. Divers searched beneath murky waters while crews scanned the shoreline. Despite repeated efforts, the Sirwan river search has not produced results.
Relatives now look to changing conditions for renewed hope. In recent days, the river’s water level has gradually declined. The current appears calmer and visibility has slightly improved.
The boys’ grandfather, Karim Yousif, urged officials to send specialized underwater teams from Baghdad. He believes clearer conditions could allow divers to operate more effectively. Above all, he wants the agonizing wait to end.
Families say uncertainty weighs heavier than grief alone. They continue gathering at the riverbank each day, watching rescue teams and scanning the water’s surface. Community members have also offered support throughout the ordeal.
The Sirwan River has a history of deadly incidents in Diyala province. Police data shows multiple drownings occurred near Jalawla in previous years. Consequently, residents remain painfully aware of the river’s dangers.
Even so, hope persists as the Sirwan river search enters its fiftieth day. Authorities have not announced plans to suspend operations. Instead, they continue coordinating with rescue units and monitoring river conditions.
For now, the water flows steadily past the waiting families. Along its banks, parents and grandparents stand together, longing for answers and praying for closure after weeks of heartbreak.
