UN condemns terror attack, offers condolences to victims’ families
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrori...
A severe drought in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Tekirdag has drained the region’s main dams, leaving many homes without water for weeks and forcing authorities to seek alternative supplies.
Authorities say the water shortage is part of a wider national issue, with several provinces warning of limited freshwater supply this summer. Rainfall in Türkiye fell 71% in July from last year, and in the Marmara region, including Tekirdag and Istanbul, it dropped 95% below the monthly norm, according to the Turkish Meteorological Service.
During the last ten months, precipitation sank 26% across the country, reaching the lowest level in 52 years.
In Tekirdag, the Naip Dam, which saw no rainfall in June or July, reached 0% capacity in August, compared with 21% at the same time last year. To cope, authorities have delivered irrigation water for domestic use and installed pumps to supply urban areas.
Mehmet Ali Sismanlar, head of Tekirdag’s Water and Sewerage Administration (TESKI), said the drought has worsened over the past decade and climate change has amplified the problem.
“We are the area and the province that has been affected the most by the drought in Türkiye,” he said. Sismanlar added that some neighbourhoods had to rely on groundwater, which has sunk to twice its original depth over the years.
Residents are struggling with daily life.
“I have been living in filth for the past two months. We cannot shower or do chores properly, and we fetch water in large bottles from nearby areas. The last time I showered was when I went to Istanbul, 130 kilometres away," said Mehmet, 70, who lives in Dereagzi neighbourhood.
His wife, Fatma, 65, added, “We stay up at night to fill bottles in case the water supply is resumed. It has completely disrupted our lives.”
Another local, Remzi Karabas, 71, said he takes his laundry to Istanbul.
“We’ll leave some day soon. What can we do here? Water does not flow at all,” he said.
The Turkmenli dam, usually reserved for irrigation, has been tapped to supply Tekirdag’s Marmaraereglisi district, while authorities continue to open new wells despite the declining groundwater levels.
The crisis comes as Türkiye faces one of its worst droughts in decades. Reuters reported that multiple provinces, including Izmir and Usak, have faced significant water cuts this summer. In Usak, municipalities were told water would only be available six hours a day due to depleted reservoirs.
Experts warn that the situation highlights the long-term challenges of climate change in the region, as urban and rural areas alike face increasing water scarcity.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Violent clashes broke out on Monday in Nepal between police and protesters demonstrating against a social media ban and alleged corruption.
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” reporting that six people were killed and several others injured.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a unicameral parliament in the country. Speaking to the nation on Monday at the parliament in Astana, he said the reform would have a “serious positive impact” on the country’s socio-economic development.
U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth and joint chiefs of staff chairman Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, marking the first trip by senior Pentagon officials since Washington increased its military presence in the Caribbean, heightening tensions with Venezuela.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment