23.02.2026 12:37
Due to the recent rains in Edirne and the release of water from dams in Bulgaria, the historical bridges over the Meriç and Tunca rivers, which have increased their flow rates and overflowed in some areas, have been closed to traffic; facilities along the riverbank have been partially submerged. In Bursa, dozens of houses in the neighboring Akçalar neighborhood have been flooded due to the overflow of Lake Ulubat.
Flooding occurred in rivers and lakes due to heavy rainfall affecting Edirne and Bursa. In Edirne, as the flow of the Meriç and Tunca rivers reached critical levels, historic bridges were closed to traffic, and evacuations began. In Bursa, dozens of houses and roads were submerged due to the overflow of Lake Ulubat, and teams in both provinces went on alert.
EDIRNE WAS SUBMERGED
With the rainfall, snowmelt, and the release of water from dams in Bulgaria, the water level in the rivers in Edirne began to rise on February 19. After the overflow of the Tunca River, the areas of Sarayiçi and Kırkpınar Er Meydanı, where the historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling takes place, were submerged. Partial flooding occurred in the Bosnaköy area, which is connected to the city center, due to the overflow of the Meriç River.
ROADS WERE CLOSED
The roads connecting Alibey-Karayusuflu and Rahmanca-Hasırcı Arnavutköy in the Meriç district were closed to traffic due to the increasing river flow. Access to the villages is being provided via alternative routes. In the Subaşı town of the Meriç district, rice fields were also submerged. The municipality's construction machines worked to prevent the spread of floodwaters. Yesterday, water spread over a wide area due to the bursting of the embankment in the region. On the other hand, Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer held a meeting at the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) with relevant institution directors, including Mayor Filiz Gencan and Garrison Commander Brigadier General Yüksel Kolcu, during the night hours.
"THERE IS A RISK OF BACKFLOW OF WATER"
After the meeting, Governor Sezer stated that the bridges over the river would be closed as a precaution, saying, "There is a risk of backflow of water in the police house, teacher's house, DSI facilities, military area, and around the university located near the riverbanks. Therefore, starting from tonight, we will take the necessary precautions and carry out evacuations. Additionally, we will close the Tunca Bridge to traffic until further notice. On the other hand, there are three dams on the Arda River. The two dams closer to Turkey have reached a fullness level of 100%. Therefore, water is being released from three gates. There is no possibility of holding this water on the Bulgarian side. It takes time for this water to reach Turkey, and we will see its effects in the coming period," he said.
HISTORIC BRIDGES WERE CLOSED
Governor Sezer and his companions later conducted an inspection around the Tunca and Meriç Rivers. After the inspection, the historic bridges over the Tunca and Meriç Rivers were closed to traffic. Access to the Karaağaç neighborhood began via the Dr. Mehmet Müezzinoğlu Bridge. Some of the social facilities along the emptied rivers were submerged.
'RED ALERT' WARNING FOR MERIÇ
The flow of the Meriç River has continued to increase since the night hours. The flow of the Meriç at the Kirişhane Station in the city center rose to 1,439 cubic meters/second at 10:00 AM, and DSI issued a 'red alert' warning. The flow of the Tunca River, which has decreased, was measured at 175 cubic meters/second. The red alert for the Tunca during the night was downgraded to 'orange alert' in the morning. Meanwhile, due to the increases in the rivers, numerous teams have been deployed to important areas. The wait continues for teams including police, gendarmerie, AFAD, DSI, and fire brigade.
LAKE ULUBAT IN BURSA RAISED BY 10 METERS
After the heavy rainfall in the Nilüfer district of Bursa, the water level of Lake Ulubat rose by 10 meters and overflowed. As the lake waters reached surrounding residential areas, many tiny houses and hobby houses in the Akçalar neighborhood were submerged, and many roads were closed to traffic.
Due to the flooding, daily life in the neighborhood was negatively affected, while the area around the holiday bungalows near the lake shore was completely surrounded by water. The flooding of farmers' cultivated lands and some connecting roads within the neighborhood also caused disruptions in transportation.
The flooding in the region was captured by drone from the air, revealing the extent to which the lake spread over a wide area.