11.04.2026 12:01
In 2019, the waters of the Keban Dam Lake in Elazığ receded by 4 kilometers due to drought, but in 2026, they advanced 150 meters due to excessive rainfall. While the crops planted in the dam area were submerged, images taken from the same point seven years apart revealed the changes.
In the Keban Dam in Elazığ, the water level in the Murat River basin had receded by 4 kilometers due to the drought experienced in 2019. Drone footage from that period recorded that the riverbed had completely dried up and the dam's base had emerged. In drone shots taken from the same point after heavy rainfall in the region in 2026, it was observed that the dam had reached its filling level and the water mass had advanced 150 meters.
PLANTED AREAS ARE UNDER WATER The rising dam waters negatively affected the surrounding agricultural lands. It was determined that some of the wheat, barley, corn, and beet fields cultivated by farmers on treasury land were submerged.
"FARMERS AFFECT THIS SITUATION KNOWINGLY" Fahrettin Oluk, a local resident, stated that the mentioned lands were expropriated by the state and that farmers planted crops knowing the risk of flooding, saying, "God Almighty says, 'We created everything from water.' There are times when people go out to pray for rain just to find a drop of water. Last year, may God not show it again, there was drought, there was thirst. Thanks to my Lord, it rained with mercy this year. A few years ago, the waters in this dam area had receded by 4-5 kilometers. This year, it did not recede at all; on the contrary, it advanced 100-150 meters. It is estimated that the water will come again to reach this level. Citizens consciously planted crops in this area, taking the risk. Last year, they planted beets in the places you see here. This is something that benefits both their own economy and the state and society. Some areas are already underwater, and it seems they will not plant crops in the remaining areas anymore. May God grant the best of everything. This year, the waters did not recede; on the contrary, it rained more. Hopefully, this year will be better. This area has been expropriated by the state. As we always say, the state has paid the citizens' money, and the citizens are farming here knowing this risk. When there is no water, they plant wheat, corn, or beets. When the water comes, there is nothing they can do since they have already taken the risk from the beginning," he said.