“Caterpillar Rain” Ravages Turkey to the Point Where Residents Are Struggling to Cope.
Following the historic earthquake on February 6, Turkey, the country most severely affected, continues to face dire consequences. As of now, a month has passed, and 1.5 million Turkish citizens have lost their homes, with over 50,000 fatalities reported. In addition, a multitude of pressing issues are unfolding simultaneously, including environmental pollution, disease outbreaks, post-earthquake reconstruction, and migration crises.
In recent days, Şırnak Province—one of the areas devastated by the earthquake—is now enduring a new terrifying “disaster,” which is an unprecedented outbreak of caterpillars. Millions of caterpillars are crawling across various crops and even invading people’s homes. The sheer number of caterpillars has made it impossible for residents to eliminate or control them using conventional methods.
Images of widespread caterpillar infestation in Turkey.
“Caterpillar Rain” is causing significant disruptions to daily life, agriculture, and is likely to affect crop yields severely. Local authorities have advised farmers to use pesticides for eradication, but so far, no effective results have been observed.
The caterpillar invasion is terrifying the residents of Şırnak Province.
Caterpillars are harmful pests to plants. They feed on pine leaves, cedar, and fir trees. When caterpillars proliferate on a large scale, they can severely damage crops or forests. They possess toxic hairs on their bodies, which can cause pain and itching upon contact with human skin, and in severe cases, can be fatal.
The sudden outbreak of caterpillars has yet to be determined as related to last month’s earthquake, but it is highly likely a consequence of the natural disaster. The earthquake may have lowered the groundwater levels, causing pine trees to dry out and die, depriving caterpillars of their natural predators, which drives them out into the open to search for food. Additionally, the earthquake may have caused changes in the soil that facilitate the hatching and development of caterpillar eggs and larvae.
After the devastating earthquake that claimed tens of thousands of lives, local residents are struggling to find food and shelter and have yet to stabilize their lives. Some individuals have begun cutting down trees in the forests for survival, leading to deforestation and loss of wildlife habitats, which further paves the way for caterpillar invasions.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake has plunged Turkey and Syria into mourning.
