Turkey's Vanishing Ground: Farmers Face Sinking Land

Turkey's central region, known for its fertile farmlands, is now a hotspot for sinkholes. The once stable ground is giving way, creating large holes that swallow up fields. This is happening because of less rain and falling groundwater levels. Experts say climate change is making things worse. The number of sinkholes is growing fast, with nearly 700 now in the Konya basin alone. Farmers are digging more wells to cope with the drought. But many of these wells are illegal. This only makes the problem worse. The groundwater is dropping at an alarming rate. In the past, it used to drop by half a meter per year. Now, it's dropping by 4 to 5 meters. This is a big problem for Turkey's farming industry.The sinkholes are unpredictable and dangerous. They can appear suddenly, putting lives at risk. One farmer, Mustafa Sik, has seen two sinkholes open up in his fields. He heard a loud, scary rumble when the second one formed. Geologists found more areas in his land that could sink. But no one knows when it will happen. Farmers are worried. They don't know if their land will stay safe. The situation is critical. The government needs to take action to protect the farmers and the land.