First spillway release in three decades
Syria's Ministry of Energy said its technical staff at the General Authority for the Euphrates Dam began opening three spillway gates on 25 May 2026 to relieve a sharp rise in river inflows. The ministry described the operation as the first of its kind in more than 30 years.
The release is part of a broader plan to safeguard the dam's structural integrity while keeping the national grid stable. Engineering teams are monitoring the structure and operating the gates around the clock, according to the official statement.
Hydropower stays online
The ministry said specialist crews are also raising the readiness of the dam's hydroelectric generation units so they can keep feeding electricity into the grid as discharge volumes climb. Operators framed the move as a test of both dam safety procedures and the country's electricity stability during a high-water episode.
Downstream evacuation order
Earlier on 25 May 2026, the Civil Defense urged residents and shop owners along the riverbank — particularly those in the low-lying riverside plots known locally as the "hawayij" — to leave their homes and businesses. The directive also halted boat traffic on the river, asked drivers to limit crossings of earthen bridges, banned swimming during the high-water period, and called for moving families, livestock, vehicles, and farming equipment to higher ground.
Warning from the dam authority
The day before, Haitham Bkour, director general of the General Authority for the Euphrates Dam, said the river level would rise by a further one meter on Monday 25 May 2026 and urged residents to keep clear of the banks.
Why it matters now
Opening three spillway gates for the first time in three decades or more underscores how unusual the current inflows are. The ministry tied the release to the broader goal of keeping electricity flowing into the national grid while protecting the dam's structural safety as water levels continue to climb.