‘I live in constant fear’: surge in giant sinkholes threatens Turkey’s farmers

Falling groundwater, extreme heat and water-intensive farming are accelerating land collapse, forcing a rethink in agricultural practices 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 ...

By Emre Çaylak in Karapınar