Farm lands in Turkey’s southeast submerged after ‘rain prayer’

ŞANLIURFA

Farm lands in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa have become submerged after three days of heavy rainfall. The rainfall began on Jan. 26 around 8:00 p.m. Farmers had performed a “rain prayer” a few days before, amid the driest winter in years.

Farm lands in Şanlıurfa’s Siverek and Viranşehir districts were affected by the rainfall, adobe houses were wrecked and vehicles drifted from the flood currents. 

Meryem Akgül, 65, was killed after her house collapsed on her due to the flood waters. She was taken to the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.

Farmers are facing difficulties from the damage caused on their farm lands from the flood waters. Locals showed support to the farmers with heavy machines to help them save their remaining farm lands.

Farmers from Akçakale, Viranşehir and Siverek had gathered at the city center to perform a “rain prayer” a few days ago.

On Dec. 28, 2017, Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroğlu said the year 2017 was the worst drought in 44 years in Turkey, due to a substantial decrease in rain levels.

Dams in Turkey are being sapped by low levels of rainfall and temperature levels above the seasonal norm, stoking fears about water supply in many provinces across the country, daily Habertürk reported on Jan. 9.

A similar incident occurred a few weeks ago in a remote village in the eastern province of Muş.

Locals performed prayers for snow amid concerns over Turkey’s worst drought in years.