Turkish cities face water shortages amid record heat, drought
The fullness rate of Istanbul's dams decreased to 48.1 percent in August from 54.9 percent during the same period last year, which means the biggest city of the country has approximately a four-month supply of drinking water remaining in its dams, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported, citing statistics from the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works.
In Ankara, the fullness rate of the dams fell sharply from 32.8 percent last year to 9.3 percent this year, leaving the capital city with only three months' worth of drinking water supply.
The fullness rate in the dams of Izmir dropped from 13.2 percent to 4.1 percent, resulting in an estimated two months' drinking water capacity remaining in its dams, according to the report.
As of August 12, the total active storage in operational dams across Türkiye was 39.8 billion cubic meters. This amount was 49.8 billion cubic meters during the same period last year.
Türkiye experienced an extremely hot and dry summer this year. In July, the country recorded a new national high temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius.
The extreme heat and drought led to widespread wildfires throughout the country. These wildfires raged across southern and western regions, resulting in loss of lives and prompting evacuations.
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The Star
11 hours ago
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Turkish cities face water shortages amid record heat, drought
ISTANBUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The largest cities of Türkiye, including Ankara and Istanbul, are experiencing a significant decline in their drinking water reserves due to hot weather and drought, Turkish media reported on Friday. The fullness rate of Istanbul's dams decreased to 48.1 percent in August from 54.9 percent during the same period last year, which means the biggest city of the country has approximately a four-month supply of drinking water remaining in its dams, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported, citing statistics from the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works. In Ankara, the fullness rate of the dams fell sharply from 32.8 percent last year to 9.3 percent this year, leaving the capital city with only three months' worth of drinking water supply. The fullness rate in the dams of Izmir dropped from 13.2 percent to 4.1 percent, resulting in an estimated two months' drinking water capacity remaining in its dams, according to the report. As of August 12, the total active storage in operational dams across Türkiye was 39.8 billion cubic meters. This amount was 49.8 billion cubic meters during the same period last year. Türkiye experienced an extremely hot and dry summer this year. In July, the country recorded a new national high temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat and drought led to widespread wildfires throughout the country. These wildfires raged across southern and western regions, resulting in loss of lives and prompting evacuations.
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Fire crews have been engaged in persistent operations in sensitive areas such as the Danube Delta, where rekindled embers and shifting winds complicate containment, requiring daily aerial and ground interventions. Portugal has recorded one of the largest burned areas, with provisional data showing about 74,931 hectares consumed this year and a sharp rise in recent weeks. Authorities reported hundreds of wildfires, deploying tens of thousands of personnel, hundreds of vehicles and dozens of aircraft. Officials warned that forecast dry thunderstorms and strong winds could worsen conditions. Dozens of firefighters have been injured on duty. In Italy, the agricultural confederation reported nearly 57,000 hectares of forest and farmland burned since early 2025, about 60 percent above the two-decade average. Officials warned that fires around Vesuvius National Park threaten unique natural and agricultural resources. 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Efthymios Lekkas, a disaster management expert in Greece, noted that about 90 percent of wildfire ignitions in Greece are tied to human activity, ranging from negligent barbecues and discarded cigarettes to deliberate arson and unsafe land clearing. He urged stronger prevention, stricter penalties and public awareness alongside improved firefighting capacity. In Italy, climatologists have pointed to shifting circulation patterns that allow the African anticyclone to reach farther north, storing heat in the Mediterranean and raising sea temperatures, a factor that can intensify extreme events. "Higher sea temperatures are probably the most important factor in triggering extreme weather events," said Marcello Miglietta of Italy's Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, warning that stored ocean heat can release energy suddenly, fuelling storms and inland convective activity. Brane Gregorcic, a meteorologist at the Slovenian Environment Agency, said atmospheric warming is making heatwaves more intense and rainfall patterns more erratic, leading to cycles of drought followed by heavy rain, a combination that hampers both prevention and recovery. POLICY PRESSURES The European Commission's Joint Research Centre warns the season is far from over. Fire-weather indices and seven-day forecasts show "extreme to very extreme" danger across large parts of the continent, with seasonal models indicating above-average temperatures could persist into September in parts of France, northern Italy and Hungary, while rainfall is expected to remain below normal in much of southern and central Europe. This combination raises the risk of an extended season. Experts and officials say the response must blend urgent tactical support, such as international aerial and ground assistance, better equipment and night patrols, with medium- and long-term strategies including improved forest and land management, stronger prevention and monitoring systems, stricter enforcement against arson and negligence, and efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are worsening heat and drought conditions. "The Mediterranean has become one of the world's most critical climate change hotspots," Lagouvardos warned, stressing that while firefighting saves lives and property in the short term, only sustained investment in prevention, planning and climate policy can reduce the human and economic costs of future fire seasons.
