Number of sinkholes in the Konya Closed Basin exceeds 740: Experts point to the impact of groundwater and climate

While inventory studies regarding sinkholes in the Konya Closed Basin are ongoing, it has been reported that the number of sinkholes identified across the basin has exceeded 740. According to the data, approximately 700 of the sinkholes are located within the Konya Basin, while about 25-30 are in Karaman and 8-10 are in Aksaray.

Prof. Dr. Fetullah Arık, Director of the Sinkhole Application and Research Center at Konya Technical University, stated that the increase in the region has become more pronounced in recent years, noting that while around 600 sinkholes were previously recorded in Konya, the number has reached the 700 level today.

Arık drew attention to the change, particularly around Karapınar. Stating that there were approximately 500 sinkholes in the region during counts conducted in 2020, Arık noted that today, one can speak of around 600 sinkholes in the same area.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASE?

According to Prof. Dr. Arık, natural geological conditions lie at the root of sinkhole formations. In areas where rocks that can dissolve upon contact with water are present, water-rock interaction can create voids underground over time. As these voids grow into cave-like structures and their ceilings become unable to bear the load, surface collapses occur.

Underground covered fractures, faults, and porous units are also counted among the factors affecting the process by facilitating the movement of water. Arık stated that slightly acidic waters in the Konya region stand out as a factor that increases solubility.

Changes in the water level in the region are also seen as critical in terms of sinkhole formation. According to experts, long-term droughts, sudden and intense rainfall periods, and the increased reliance on groundwater for agricultural production are among the issues that amplify the risks in the basin.

Pointing to the effects of climate change, Arık said that 2025 was recorded as one of the hottest periods of the last 40-50 years, and that in 2026, particularly the post-spring rainfall could be considered one of the wettest periods of the last 60 years. This picture shows that long drought periods and sudden rainfall can occur consecutively in the same region.

AFAD'S MAPPING STUDIES CONTINUE

AFAD's efforts to determine the risks in the region are also ongoing. According to the information provided by Arık, sensitivity maps for Konya, Karaman, and Aksaray, and a hazard map for Konya are currently being prepared. The center within Konya Technical University also contributes to the monitoring of sinkholes and inventory studies.

Touching upon the relationship between faults, earthquakes, and sinkholes, Arık stated that faults create discontinuities that allow for water movement underground, and that some earthquakes can trigger collapses. However, he emphasized that more data is needed for the earthquake-sinkhole relationship due to the limited number of precise records regarding the moment of sinkhole formation in the region.

While Arık noted that sinkhole formations can be observed in the same period or within a few days or weeks after some earthquakes, he said it is not possible to establish this relationship definitively with current data. For this reason, experts draw attention to the importance of both field observations and regular recording and mapping studies.