Spillway Gate 4 Closed
Syria's Ministry of Energy said on Saturday, 30 May 2026, that water levels along the Euphrates River are gradually improving after technical measures were taken to reduce flow downstream. The ministry confirmed that Spillway Gate 4 at the Euphrates Dam has been closed, bringing total water discharge down to roughly 1,400 cubic meters per second.
The announcement was made by Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir, who said engineering teams will continue around-the-clock monitoring until river levels return to normal in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates.
Coordination With Turkey
The reduction follows several days of contact between Damascus and Ankara aimed at trimming upstream inflows from Turkish territory. Inflows from the Turkish side have been declining, allowing operators at the General Establishment of the Euphrates Dam to begin phased closures of the spillway gates.
A first phase on 29 May 2026 reduced flow by roughly 100 cubic meters per second through a partial closure of Spillway Gate 3, with further reductions planned in the days ahead.
2,400 Families Affected
The river surge that prompted the operation has affected 2,400 families along the Euphrates in recent days, with floodwaters reaching residential areas and farmland in Deir ez-Zor. Emergency teams, civil defense crews and local authorities have been on heightened alert, carrying out evacuations and protective work to limit losses.
On Saturday, emergency teams in Raqqa erected an earthen barrier around the drinking-water station in the village of al-Sharida in eastern rural Raqqa, with similar protective measures prepared for water stations at Zor Shamr, al-Ghanim al-Ali and al-Sabkha if levels keep rising.
Phased Return to Normal
The ministry described the dam operation as part of an effort to safely and gradually return Euphrates levels to normal along the river's course. Technical and engineering crews are tracking discharge rates in real time to balance flood mitigation against the need to keep downstream water infrastructure stable.
Officials said the management of water flow will continue until levels fully stabilize, with civil defense, emergency teams and local authorities maintaining heightened alert across affected riverbank areas.