ISTANBUL, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Drought and low rainfall have caused the main dams supplying water to Türkiye's western province of Izmir to drop to critically low levels, threatening the city's water supply, according to official data released on Wednesday.
The Izmir Water and Sewerage Administration confirmed the severity of the situation, reporting that five of the six dams are now at dangerously low levels, only a fraction of the total reservoir capacity.
The Tahtali Dam, which supplies nearly half of Izmir's drinking water, has plummeted to just 7.97 percent, down sharply from 22.55 percent a year ago. Other key reservoirs, including the Alacati and Gordes dams, have also seen steep declines, with levels dropping below 3 percent.
Only one of the six major dams remains above 50 percent of its capacity.
Local authorities have launched scheduled and rotating water cuts from Wednesday across 11 central districts of Izmir, where consumption is highest, along with public awareness campaigns.
Due to drought and significantly dropping water levels at the Alacati dam, a former highway, which had been submerged before the dam's construction, has become visible again and walkable. Images captured in drone footage by the state-run Anadolu Agency show the dramatic decline in water levels at the dam. ■
