Flood risk threatens villages in the southern countryside of Aleppo due to the collapse of the "Al-Siha" dam  barriers

On Monday evening, the "Al-Siha" earthen berm in the southern countryside of Aleppo witnessed new collapses  in several locations, specifically in the eastern side adjacent to the villages of "Tal Al-Aqrab" and "Mazraat Al-Anana" and near "Tal al-Dhabban"  due to the high water level in it due to heavy rains.

Local sources from the area said that these collapses resulted from a sharp rise in the water level, which led to the flooding of more than 10 hectares of agricultural land and the access of water to residential houses in Mazraat al-Anana, amid severe material damage and distress calls issued by residents.

Warnings to residents of the spread of the danger

The Civil Defense issued an urgent warning to the residents of the villages of (Tal Al-Aqrab, um Al-Karamil, Al-Atshan Al-Sharqiyah, and Khirbet Al-Suwaihal) of the possibility of water reaching their areas.

The Civil Defense confirmed in a statement that the coming hours may witness partial or total evacuations of these villages, based on developments on the ground and an assessment of the flood risk.

The Civil Defense said in its statement: "To the civilian brothers in the village of Tal Al-Aqrab in the southern countryside of Aleppo, we would like to inform you of the breaking of the berm of Al-Siha in more than one location due to the rise in the water level, on the evening of Monday, May 4, and we warn of the possibility of water reaching the village, with a possible danger to the villages of um Al-Karamil, Al-Ashtan Al-Sharqiyah and Khirbet Al-Suwaihal in the southern countryside of Aleppo."

He pointed out that the Syrian Civil Defense teams at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management are cooperating and coordinating with the administration of the southern region of Samaan, Aleppo province and the Directorate of Water Resources with all possible works, which are currently represented in the lifting of a reserve earthen berm to prevent water from reaching the village of Tal al-Aqrab.

He pointed out that it is possible to carry out a partial or total evacuation operation from these villages in the coming times, depending on developments on the ground, calling on civilians not to approach the Al-Seha area and the flooded areas, and to save important things in case of an evacuation operation, such as identity papers and others, in addition to adhering to the instructions issued by the concerned authorities in the area.

It also called on the residents to prepare and keep their identity papers and important items in easy-to-carry bags, and to fully comply with the instructions issued by the local authorities in anticipation of any decision to evacuate immediately.

Alerting Civil Defense Teams and Concerned Authorities

In response to the emergency situation, the Syrian Civil Defense teams (Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate) have declared a state of maximum alert, working in coordination with the administration of the southern region of Samaan, Aleppo governorate and the Directorate of Water Resources.

Current efforts are focused on the construction of precautionary earthen berms in an attempt to prevent the flow of water from the Al-Seiha area towards the village of Tal al-Aqrab and nearby villages.