More Than 700 Sinkholes Reported in Turkey’s Konya Region

More than 700 sinkholes have appeared in the agricultural region of Konya in central Turkey.

Experts link the collapses to less rain and years of pumping groundwater for farming, which lowers underground water levels and allows cavities to grow.

Some holes are about 28 metres wide and 35 metres deep, making them dangerous to people nearby.

Sinking ground has cracked and tilted homes, and officials have warned residents not to live in a house considered at risk of collapse.

A project to predict new sinkholes has begun by measuring ground movement.

Local efforts are also looking at crops that need less water, as the region tries to reduce groundwater use.