In the fertile plains of Turkey known as the Konya Plain and celebrated as the country’s breadbasket, an eerie phenomenon is taking shape. More than 2,600 sinkholes have appeared in the last years and experts believe it’s from drought and a reckless use of the country’s groundwater draining the aquifers.
Varying in size the sinkholes are starting to threaten not on the farmers’ lives but residential areas as well including the regions of Cihanbeyli, Yunak, Kulu, Sarayönü and Kadınhanı, where the farmers’ rely on grain production.
While sinkholes are believed to occur in nature, experts in Turkey say the sudden increase is manmade. Officials at the the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Sinkhole Application Research Center at Konya Technical University are closely monitoring the situation.
Read related: Sinkholes from the Dead Sea region
Will authorities be able to get groundwater overuse under control?
Turkey is notorious for cutting corners and disregarding policies meant to protect people. Years of neglect is the reason why there are so many fatalities after earthquakes in Turkey. The same is true with the recent decision to cull millions of dogs, 4 million dogs, from the streets of Turkey.
Turkish environmentalists were killed for protecting the land. The least we can do is petition that justice is served.
The government had issued rules for sterilizing feral dogs and cats on the streets. The policies weren’t enforced and now the animals are paying the price.
In other areas, whistleblowing against pollution can send you to jail in Turkey. Treehuggers have been murdered for protecting forests against mining. Read the story on Ali Ulvi and Aysin Büyüknohutçu.
Word to visitors to Turkey: Watch out.
