Three thousand hectares of agricultural land in the southern Turkish city of Mersin were flooded due to excessive rainfall. The Seyhan River was already high because of the water let off from the Seyhan Dam. With the excessive rainfall, both the highway connecting Adana to Tuzla neighborhood and the fields in Mersin's Tarsus district were flooded.
Due to the rainfall which affected the Eastern Mediterranean region over the last week, the Seyhan Dam reached a high level. In order to decrease the level of water, the dam gates were opened. This increased the risk for the Seyhan River to flood.
In the neighborhoods close to the Seyhan River, farmers grow wheat, cabbage, zucchini, lettuce and citrus and 3 thousand hectares of these fields were flooded.
Cahit Incefikir, president of Seyhan's Agriculture Chamber said: "Adana have received three times the usual rainfall".
The prices will increase due to the disaster
Mehmet Emin Kozi, a farmer in the area said: "It is sad to see our fields like this. We cannot foresee our losses right now. Next year, we will know about this. Luckily we had already harvested for this season. However, next year there will be a sizeable decrease in the yields. Due to the potentially lower production in Cukurova next season, prices will increase."
Heavy rains flooded fields in Bursa
The Canbali stream, located in Bursa's Karacabey district, flooded due to heavy rains. Both the fields and residential areas were affected by the flood.
70% of the Manisa Valley is under water
It rained for three days in Manisa and according to the weather forecast more rain is expected. As 70% of the Manisa Valley flooded by the rainfalls, the fields in the area were damaged. The actual damage can only be assessed after the water is drained from the valley.
Source: Bloomberg