Tartous, Jan. 15 (SANA) Recent heavy rainfall led to a rise in water levels in rivers and valleys across Tartous countryside in coastal Syria, causing flash floods that damaged large swathes of agricultural land, particularly in the Akkar Plain, one of the most affected areas after the Nahr El Kabir River overflowed and inundated nearby villages.
Villages impacted by the flooding included al-Hasana, Kharbet al-Akrad, Tal Sanoun, Tal Adas, Karto and al-Kharaba, where vast areas of farmland were submerged.
Tartous Agriculture Director Mohammad Ahmad said in a statement to SANA on Thursday that directorate committees recorded damage to about 620 Hectares of crops, including wheat, potatoes, zucchini, parsley and fava beans. He added that 1,150 greenhouses were also damaged after floodwaters submerged 4.8 Hectares planted with tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and strawberries.
Farmers in the Akkar Plain stressed the need for rapid intervention to prevent further losses, saying the continuation of agricultural activity in the area depends on the level of support they receive.
Responding to farmers’ calls, Ahmad said specialized committees began work on the first day of the flooding by visiting damaged lands, registering farmers’ data and conducting on-site damage assessments through Disaster and Drought Fund committees. He said the lists will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture to study compensation cases in line with applicable laws and regulations.
He added that agricultural extension units provided technical support to farmers, including washing plants inside greenhouses to remove sediment, supplying organic fertilizer and spraying copper compounds to prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
