Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara visited an area stricken by floods on Friday after days of mayhem caused by surging waters in the Euphrates.
Several children have died, homes and farms were flooded, a bridge collapsed and the military has been called in after heavy rain pushed the Euphrates to its limits in north-eastern Syria. Alerts were also issued in Iraq.
The river's water levels are forecast to reduce in the next two days but the situation remains delicate. Tankers were delivering drinking water, while some water stations were out of action while government workers fortify embankments around them.
-
An inundated area in Syria's Deir Ezzor province following flooding after the Euphrates' water levels rose. Sana / AFP -
As a measure to curb the flooding, water is released from the Euphrates Dam in Tabqa, Raqqa province. Sana / AFP -
Floodwater swept away parts of the earth bridge at Al Siyasiya crossing in Deir Ezzor, forcing residents to rely on river ferries to cross the Euphrates. Sana -
People in Deir Ezzor are packed on to a ferry to reach the other side of the city. Sana -
The river's water levels are expected to subside in the coming days but the situation remains delicate. Sana -
People living in affected areas have called for emergency aid and help in relocating to higher ground. Sana -
Surging floodwater in Deir Ezzor, Syria. Sana
Mr Al Shara was visiting Deir Ezzor province with several of his ministers on Friday to "assess conditions and review humanitarian needs", state media said. People living in the affected areas have called for emergency aid and help relocating to higher ground.
The Syrian government recently restored control over Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces from the Kurdish-led militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that had held large areas of the north-east during the 2011 to 2024 civil war.
Flood damage
The Syrian navy was called in on Friday to supply boats for evacuations. In one case, an earthen bridge over the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor collapsed due to high waters.
People were being ferried from bank to bank while other barriers were reinforced. The high waters also entered a refugee camp, where authorities were accused of failing to provide warnings.
Farmland was flooded in the Deir Ezzor countryside, while homes, a school and a mosque were among the places inundated in Raqqa. Emergency workers from other parts of Syria have been redeployed to the flood zone. University exams were postponed in Deir Ezzor.
Civil defence workers said on Thursday that three children had drowned and another was missing after they went swimming in the flooded Euphrates river in Syria, defying official warnings.
Rescue teams said on Friday they saved two more young men from drowning near a bridge. Five people were taken for medical attention.
The flooding follows one of Syria's heaviest rainy seasons in 30 years, with reservoirs filled to more than 97 per cent. Turkey, which lies upstream on the Euphrates, has opened dams to reduce water levels, increasing the flow in to Syria.
Energy Minister Mohammad Al Bashir said on Thursday that Turkish authorities had agreed to reduce flows.
