Municipalities across northern Cyprus have been engaged in a protracted battle against severe flooding, following intense and unexpectedly early rainfall that has overwhelmed drainage systems and forced the closure of key roads. With emergency crews working around the clock for over 36 hours in some areas, officials are sounding the alarm over degraded water retention infrastructure they identify as a critical, long-term vulnerability.
The deluge, which commenced a day ahead of meteorological predictions, prompted mayors from Lefkoşa (Nicosia) to Girne (Kyrenia) to activate full emergency protocols. In the capital, critical arteries including Yavuz Gonnolu Street and Barış Caddesi were rendered impassable, with the route between Hastane Çemberi and Ortaköy Işıkları also shut. The situation was compounded by a heightened alert around the Gönyeli Dam, where water levels surged threateningly in the early hours of the morning.
Authorities point to a systemic failure underlying the immediate crisis. Mehmet Harmancı, Mayor of Lefkoşa Türk Belediyesi, emphasized that the region's aging retention ponds have lost most of their capacity due to silt accumulation over decades, transforming them from assets into liabilities. "The ponds that should hold water in dry months can no longer perform their storage function," he stated. "This is a loss of national wealth and is the main cause of floods that endanger our cities." The Gönyeli pond, for instance, now holds a mere 453,000 cubic meters, approximately 30% of its original volume, drastically reducing its ability to buffer sudden inflows.
On the ground, municipal teams have been engaged in exhaustive operations. In Girne, Mayor Murat Şenkul described the event as a catastrophe for the municipality's scale, with crews removing fallen trees, implementing preventative measures at weakened sites, and struggling to clear mountain mud from blocked storm drains. "For our scale, this is a major disaster and everyone in the field is working tirelessly," Şenkul confirmed. Simultaneously, in Beyarmudu, the entire municipal personnel maintained an overnight vigil at their headquarters, ensuring a state of immediate readiness for any emerging incidents.
The impact extends beyond traffic gridlock. The persistent flood risk exposes urban areas to recurring damage, while municipal resources are being stretched thin by these continuous, large-scale responses. The specific case of Yavuz Gonnolu Street underscores a deeper challenge; officials note that the road level sits below the adjacent stream bed, rendering conventional drainage solutions futile. Addressing this, like other systemic weaknesses, will necessitate substantial capital investment in infrastructure rather than temporary fixes.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the compounding pressures of climate volatility and aging public works. As northern Cyprus endures more frequent extreme weather events, the demand for comprehensive environmental management and infrastructure modernization becomes increasingly urgent, moving from a planning priority to an imperative for civic safety and resilience.