Euphrates floods hit northeastern Syria

The swelling Euphrates River has submerged farmland and washed away roads and bridges in Syrian provinces of Deir al-Zour and Raqqa since late May. The Syrian government has ordered residents along the riverbanks to evacuate as the flood water continues to rise and has inundated villages in the region.

The disaster stems from abnormal torrential rain in upstream regions coupled with large-scale water releases from dams, according to Syrian local media.