More than 2,600 large holes in the ground, driven by drought and excessive use of groundwater in Turkey’s Konya plain, threaten agriculture and residential areas.
Turkey’s fertile plain of Konya, nicknamed “the breadbasket of the country”, faces an increase in the number of sinkholes. These sinks, which vary in size, threaten agricultural activities and they are getting closer and closer to residential areas.
At last count, their number has exceeded 2,600, due mainly to drought and uncontrolled use of groundwater. The most affected districts are Cihanbeyli, Yunak, Kulu, Sarayönü and Kadınhanı, known for their high grain production.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Sinkhole Application Research Center of Konya Technical University are closely monitoring hole development and looking for preventive measures.
Current data indicates that these are now advancing towards more critical places, such as populated regionsenergy investment zones and places of great agricultural activity, unlike its previous appearance in largely isolated areas.
Experts say that, although sinkholes They will always exist, human activity contributes to their growing number.
