Minister of Energy: Turkey reduces Euphrates releases by 200 m³ per second

 Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir revealed that Turkey has agreed to reduce  water releases in the Euphrates River "from about 2,000 cubic meters per second to 1,800 cubic meters," expecting this reduction to be reflected in the level during the next 48 hours.

In remarks carried by the state-run SANA news agency during a tour of Deir Ezzor, which has been stricken by the rise in the Euphrates water level, Minister al-Bashir said that Turkey "will make a second dilution of water quantities across the Euphrates next Monday," without specifying the amount of expected relief.

Al-Bashir added that "there is no need to be afraid or panic" due to the rise in the level of the Euphrates River, with the need to take the necessary precautions and stay away from the river course in order to preserve public safety, considering that the concerned authorities "were able to manage the crisis with the least possible damage", despite the fact that these water releases are "the largest in more than thirty years".

Minister al-Bashir indicated that 62 water stations were out of service on Thursday in Deir Ezzor, in addition to 16 stations in Raqqa province, stressing that technical teams will work, on Thursday, May 29, to restart 10 stations after protecting them with earthen berms.

The minister concluded his statement by stressing the continuation of construction and protection works at the giant Euphrates station in Deir Ezzor, expecting its completion today, in order to ensure the stability of the water supply to the residents of the city of Deir Ezzor and its surrounding areas.

Euphrates Corporation: 98.5% storage rates of dam lakes

The Euphrates Dam Corporation confirmed that the dams and water facilities are in a stable and safe technical condition, and there is no structural risk to the body of the dams, gates or operational equipment.

In a press release, the corporation pointed out that the technical capacity of the dams allows the passage of larger quantities of current flows when needed, and that all ongoing works are carried out according to strict technical monitoring around the clock.

The quantities of water received from the Turkish side during the past days amounted to about 2000 cubic meters per second, as a result of the abundance of the current rainy season, and the opening of overflow gates in the dams located on the riverbed inside Turkish territory, according to the Foundation's statement.

The corporation revealed that these large quantities of water imposed an exceptional operational reality on Syrian dams and water facilities, explaining that the lakes of the Syrian dams reached high storage rates that exceeded 98.5%, which no longer allows the storage of additional quantities of water without affecting the limits of operational safety, which necessitated the continuation of the passage of large quantities towards the riverbed.

The current flow rate is about 1.5 meters per second, with varying heights in water levels according to the nature of the river course and its surrounding areas.

According to the press release, the current data received indicate that the high flows coming from the Turkish side will continue until Sunday evening, after which they will begin to gradually decline according to the technical information available so far.

Registered Damages and Precautionary Measures

The Euphrates Dam General Corporation reported that the damages recorded so far are mostly concentrated in the areas of encroachments and slums established on the river's sanctuary or within its natural bed, in addition to some agricultural lands located in the flooding areas.

It confirmed that no risks were recorded to regular settlements or main facilities associated with the dams

In this context, the technical teams continue to monitor the water levels along the riverbed, while following up on the operational reality of dams, gates and water facilities continuously and around the clock.

The General Authority for Water Resources in Aleppo, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor governorates also explained that its directorates have begun to implement a series of precautionary and preventive measures.

The measures included the formation of operations and emergency rooms, and the follow-up of water levels around the clock, in addition to strengthening the earthen berms located near pumping stations, water installations and river streams.

Emergency Operations Room in Raqqa

In Raqqa governorate, an emergency operations room has been set up to respond quickly to any emergency or potential danger that may threaten facilities or agricultural lands located on the banks of the Euphrates River.

The technical workshops also sent heavy machinery and equipment to a number of sites and stations, including the "Tawi Rumman" station and the main station, with the aim of strengthening the earthen berms and protecting the stations' equipment from any possible damage.

In addition to carrying out additional protection works and securing sites in the drinking water station "Hawi Al-Hawa" and the areas of "Al-Khatouniya, Al-Mazyouna, Al-Mahwiya, Al-Jazara Al-Gharbi and Hercules".

As part of the preventive measures, a number of motors and electrical equipment at the Tawi Rumman and Al-Karama stations were also dismantled and moved to safe places in a proactive manner.

Direct communication was also made with the residents and farmers to evacuate the agricultural equipment located in the riverbed and transfer it to safe areas, in addition to providing them with the numbers of emergency teams to deal immediately with any emergency situation.

In Aleppo governorate, the technical teams of the Directorate of Water Resources confirmed that the status of the main pumping stations, in particular the "Al-Babiri", "Al-Mushatahid" and "Al-Jamiyya" stations, is still stable and safe.

In Deir Ezzor Governorate, the Directorates of Water Resources continue field monitoring and follow-up work in coordination with the concerned authorities, in addition to carrying out the work of fencing, reinforcement and preventive measures necessary to protect facilities, agricultural lands and properties located near the riverbed.