Euphrates flooding displaces thousands in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Euphrates flooding displaces thousands in Syria's Deir Ezzor Submitted by Reem Aouir on Sat, 05/30/2026 - 19:27 Syrian authorities opened dam spillways for the first time in three decades as rising Euphrates waters displaced thousands across eastern Syria. The picture shows a flooded area in Syria's Deir Ezzor province after rising water levels in the Euphrates River caused widespread inundation on May 28, 2026. (SANA/AFP) Off More than 2,400 families in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province have been affected by severe flooding after water levels in the Euphrates River rose sharply, inundating villages, damaging farmland and disrupting access to essential services across the region. The flooding, which Syria's Ministry of Energy said was caused by “the abundance of the current rainy season and the opening of floodgates at dams located along the river in Turkish territory”, has hit Deir Ezzor and neighbouring Raqqa hardest since the surge began on 26 May. Describing the rise in flows from across the border as “unprecedented,” the ministry confirmed it had opened three spillway gates at Syria’s Euphrates Dam for the first time in more than 30 years to relieve pressure on the structure. By Friday, the ministry announced that efforts by the Syrian leadership with its Turkish side had “resulted in the start of reducing the quantities of water coming into Syrian territory via the Euphrates river.” In a video posted on X, Mohammad al-Bashir, the Minister of Energy, said that “water levels along the Euphrates River are gradually improving following technical measures taken at the dam”, adding that authorities will continue monitoring conditions until levels return to normal. In the early ...

Original source: Middle East Eye