Türkiye Grapples with Severe Drought as Rainfall Hits 52-Year Low

(MENAFN) Türkiye is grappling with one of its most extreme droughts in decades, as rainfall has plummeted to dangerously low levels, endangering both water supplies and agricultural production.

According to data released Monday by the State Meteorological Service, the country received only 401.1 kilograms of rainfall per square meter between October 2024 and August 2025. This marks a 27% drop from the long-term average and a 29% decrease compared to the same period last year, making it the driest year in 52 years.

The drought is particularly severe in Southeastern Anatolia, where rainfall is down by more than 53% from seasonal norms. The Mediterranean region recorded its lowest rainfall in 51 years, while the Marmara and Aegean regions are experiencing their driest period in 18 years. In the capital, Ankara, the water year has been the driest in 47 years. Only parts of the Black Sea region saw above-average rainfall, offering minimal relief.

Halim Orta, an academic at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University and a local wheat farmer, described the situation as unparalleled in recent memory. In a statement to media, Orta warned that both surface and groundwater resources are rapidly depleting, exacerbating the hydrological drought.

He warned that the drought is causing significant socioeconomic challenges, with many residents facing difficulties accessing sufficient water for daily necessities and hygiene. At the same time, declining agricultural yields are driving up food prices and threatening food security.

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