Field Studies for Sinkholes in Konya Closed Basin have been Completed

Field studies have been completed to create AFAD's Sinkhole Susceptibility Map for the detection of sinkholes formed by climate change, drought and uncontrolled groundwater use in the Konya Closed Basin.

704 of the sinkholes are located in Konya, 29 in Karaman and 8 in Aksaray. 390 of the 704 sinkholes in Konya are considered as well type sinkholes.

While sinkhole formation is recorded in 14 districts of Konya, Karapınar ranks first with 572 sinkholes.

While the first sinkhole was recorded in the city in 1972 and 1977, 1 in 1983 and 1985, 2 in 1995 and 2000, 3 in 2002, 1 in 2003, 2 in 2005, 9 in 2006, 7 in 2007, 6 sinkholes occurred in 2008 and 7 in 2009.

According to inventory data, sinkhole formations began to increase rapidly after 2010.

While 20 sinkholes occurred in 2010, 12 in 2011, 5 in 2012, and 32 in 2013, 6 sinkholes occurred in 2014, 5 in 2015, 30 in 2016, 9 in 2017, and 16 in 2018. 44 sinkholes occurred in 2019, 25 in 2020, 27 in 2021, 15 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 33 in 2024, 11 in 2025, and 4 in 2026.

Apart from these, there are 354 sinkholes whose date of formation is unknown.

"THERE ARE 741 SINKLETS WE DETECTED IN TOTAL"

AFAD Konya Provincial Director Ali İhsan Körpeş said that the work carried out in the basin under the coordination of Konya Governorship is a long-term process.

Reminding that the first studies on the sinkhole were carried out between 2020 and 2023, and the second phase of these studies has been carried out since 2025, Körpeş said:

"As part of the studies, there are 741 sinkholes we detected in Konya Closed Basin in total. We have completed our field work. We are also updating the change in the diameter or depth of the existing sinkholes in the field in our inventory. In fact, the number of sinkholes being 741 is a long-standing situation. As you know, sinkholes are not a problem experienced today. Approximately 50 percent of the 741 sinkholes we have detected now are sinkholes that formed maybe 100 years ago. "We can express it as around 350."

SINKLETS ARE MARKED ON THE MAP

Stating that the sinkholes were examined on site by expert teams, Körpeş said, "Our geological and civil engineers in the field follow the process by scanning and measuring the area. We also carry out imaging in the region via drones. We can detect the sinkholes that have formed without notice. A study on marking the sinkholes on the map and determining the possible locations where they may occur." he said.

INVENTORY IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED

Stating that the map will be shared with the public upon completion of the work, Körpeş said:

"In addition, technical issues such as well analyzes in the field, water level measurements, and soil layer structures in the field are also examined. The coordinates of all 741 sinkholes are available on our map. We also make markings in areas where they are likely to occur. We also update our inventory on a continuous basis."