Overview
- River levels rose sharply after months of heavy rain and controlled releases upstream in Turkey, with the Ataturk Dam reported to have opened its spillway for the first time in seven years.
- Syrian authorities said the country's reservoir storage was nearly full and opened the Euphrates Dam floodgates, a move officials say had not been used for around 40 years.
- Deir Ezzor, Raqa and Aleppo provinces declared states of emergency as flooding submerged bridges, cut roads, inundated farmland and forced evacuations and boat rescues.
- Rescue teams and the military have moved people to safety, hospitals have treated flood victims, and officials reported deaths and missing children as communities face disrupted water and power services.
- Officials warn flows could worsen downstream and that continued controlled releases will be needed, adding strain to Syria's weakened water infrastructure and raising urgent humanitarian and repair needs.