Tunca River in Edirne nears drying point

With global warming, the province now sounding the drought alarm is Edirne.

In Edirne, where air temperatures have remained above seasonal norms and rainfall has been insufficient throughout this year and previous years, the flow rate of the Tunca River, one of the region's vital water sources, has dropped to its lowest level.

The latest measurement at the Tunca River's Suakacağı station recorded a flow rate of 4 cubic meters per second, whereas it was measured at 16 cubic meters per second on the same date last year. The flow rate of the river, which serves as a lifeline for both animals and agriculture, has decreased exactly fourfold compared to the previous year.

As the drought hits the Tunca River, the drop in flow has led to the formation of islets. In some parts of the river, where vehicle tires and waste have surfaced, citizens can even walk across. A citizen was seen walking to an islet in the middle of the river to fish with a rod.

The Tunca River, which has reached the point of drying up in Edirne, is causing anxiety among tourists and local residents.

'WILDLIFE IS IN GREAT DISTRESS'

Cennet Cemre Aydın, a university student from Edirne, said, "Since the banks of the Tunca River are a place we visit constantly in both summer and winter, we are actually familiar with almost every level of the water here. Even though it is currently the beginning of spring, the fact that the water has receded this much will create new problems for us in 3 months.

As someone who also participates in canoeing activities on the river, I see that both the pollution of the water and the living creatures within it are in a very difficult situation. For this reason, I cannot imagine what our state will be in 3 months. I hope the water rises and does not stay at this level."

'FISH ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL'

Memduh Sidim, a resident of Edirne who expressed that they are waiting for April rains, stated, "The Arda, Meriç, and Tunca rivers, which are the pearls of our Turkey and our frontier city, flow through Edirne. We are experiencing a drought due to the season. Many living creatures inhabit this riverbed. Because the water level has dropped so much, fish, beavers, coypus, and other creatures are in a very difficult situation as they cannot get enough oxygen. We are waiting for the April rains.

The current situation, combined with pollution and the lack of snow and rainfall last year, is creating a major drought. Due to the low water level, the fish are fighting their final battle for survival. Along with the drought, there is a lot of pollution visible in the river. We hope that the water level will return to normal with the rains expected in April."

News Source: İHA