Central Turkey has experienced nearly 700 "sinkholes" due to drought.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey recently released an assessment report stating that nearly 700 "sinkholes" have appeared in the agricultural region of Konya province in central Turkey due to long-term drought. This issue has raised concerns about local agricultural production and public safety. The report from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey stated that in the Konya Basin, 684 "sinkholes" have been discovered, scattered among the cracked farmlands, posing a threat to agricultural production and land safety. Research from Konya Technical University suggests that climate change, prolonged drought, and over-exploitation of groundwater are the main reasons for the rapid increase in the number of "sinkholes." To meet the irrigation needs of high water-consuming crops, a large amount of groundwater has been extracted in the area for a long time, accelerating the depletion of water resources in the Konya Basin.