The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced that it has begun reducing the quantities of water flowing through the Euphrates River in the governorates of Raqqa (northern Syria) and Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria).
The ministry said today, Friday, May 29, that the step came after successful efforts and follow-up by the Syrian leadership with the Turkish side, which resulted in the start of reducing water inflows from Turkey toward Syrian territory to control flooding or excessive rises in water levels.
Technical teams at the General Corporation for the Euphrates Dam began taking operational measures to help gradually lower water levels.
The measures included reducing water releases through the dam by 100 cubic meters per second as a first phase, through a partial closure of spillway gate No. 3. Further reductions are expected in the coming days until conditions return to normal in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.
Euphrates Waters Flood Hweijat Sakr
On the ground, before the gradual decline began, the crisis peaked when river water entered and flowed into the Hweijat Sakr area in Deir Ezzor. Enab Baladi’s correspondent reported that water began flowing from Corniche Street amid fears that the area could be completely submerged.
Euphrates waters flood Hweijat Sakr in Deir Ezzor, May 29, 2026 (Enab Baladi)
He added that more than 5,000 dunums of agricultural land were damaged by flooding in several areas, noting that the emergency response committee and the governorate’s operations room had been activated around the clock to follow developments and deal with the damage.
He said precautionary evacuations were carried out in high-risk areas, shelter centers were secured, and water stations were supported with machinery.
As part of direct official follow-up on the crisis, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Deir Ezzor city at noon on Friday for a field tour to inspect conditions on the ground, review evacuation and relief operations, and oversee coordination among ministries and local committees to overcome the material impact left by the water.
Enab Baladi’s correspondent attended the minister’s field tour, during which al-Saleh said the ministry had begun sending reinforcements of heavy machinery and bulldozers to the governorate to support response operations. Al-Saleh also issued a direct appeal to residents and local committees in the affected areas to receive the machinery and direct it to the most dangerous points.
In parallel, teams from the Ministry of Emergency, in cooperation with the Syrian Civil Defense, confronted the peak water rise today, Friday, by focusing on saving lives. Teams continued transporting humanitarian, medical, and urgent emergency cases by ferries between the two banks of the Euphrates after bridges were cut off.
Engineers and machinery also worked to raise a large earthen berm along the river course in the village of Marat in the eastern countryside, helping limit the flow of water toward civilian homes and low-lying land.
Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh during an inspection tour of Deir Ezzor, May 28, 2026 (Enab Baladi)
