Syria – Thousands Evacuate After Earthquake Damages River Dams in North

by in Asia, News

Thousands of homes have been flooded in northern Syria after a dam was breached along the Orontes river.

According to reports by the United Nations, recent earthquakes in Turkey damaged a dam on the Orontes river in the Salqin subdistrict of Syria, located in Harem District in Idlib Governorate.

Around 500 households evacuated homes in the village of Al-Tloul (also known as al-Tlul) on 08 February 2023. The river was reportedly already swollen after recent heavy rain.

In a report of 13 February, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said around 1,000 houses in nearby villages of Salqin district, including Hardana, Delbiya, Jakara and Hamziyeh were flooded on 11 February 2023. Approximately 7,000 people evacuated.

More than 4,300 deaths and 7,600 injuries have been reported in northwest Syria as of 12 February as a result of the earthquake of 7.7 magnitude that struck southern Turkey on 06 February.

After the floods. Areas of the Salqin subdistrict in Harem District, Idlib Governorate, Syria, 09 February 2023. Image: Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite image using False Color Urban composite where water and flooded areas appear very dark blue or black.
Before the floods. Areas of the Salqin subdistrict in Harem District, Idlib Governorate, Syria, 25 January  2023. Image: Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite image using False Color Urban composite

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