<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/28/i-live-in-constant-fear-surge-in-giant-sinkholes-threatens-turkeys-farmers>
"Fatih Sik was drinking tea with friends at home when he heard a rumbling sound
outside that grew to a loud boom, like a volcano had erupted nearby. From the
window, he saw water and mud shoot into the sky, as high as the tallest trees,
less than 100 metres away.
The 47-year-old knew what it was, because it is common in Karapınar, Konya, a
vast agricultural province known as Turkey’s breadbasket. A giant sinkhole had
opened up on his land. Fifty metres wide and 40 metres deep, it had appeared
almost a year to the day after a previous one had formed. It was August – the
hottest month of the year.
Sik was born on the farm he now owns, which his father ran before him, yet he
says scientists have told local people the area is no longer livable. One house
nearby has collapsed into a sinkhole.
“Every night I pray before I go to bed and when I wake up I pray again,” said
Sik. “I live in constant fear that a sinkhole will take my house.”
Konya, part of the once-fertile Central Anatolia region, gave life to ancient
civilisations, including what is believed to be the world’s first agricultural
society, at Çatalhöyük, in about 8,000BC. It is dotted with the remnants of
water cults, Hittite sacred springs and Roman aqueducts, and once offered vital
watering holes to traders on the Silk Road.
Now, though, the land is drying up. Turkey is on the brink of a major drought
crisis, with almost 90% of the country at risk of becoming desert.
Sinkholes are appearing in farmland in the region at an increasing pace.
Experts say there are now almost 700, causing uncertainty and devastation for
the farmers who live and work there."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
