Rapid Inundation of Gembos and Eynif Poljes (Taurus Mountains, Türkiye): Disentangling Extreme Precipitation, Ponor Blockage, and Engineering Failures

Karst poljes are highly sensitive environments where natural hydro-meteorological extremes and human landscape alterations often collide. In February 2026, the Gembos and Eynif poljes in Taurus Mountains experienced catastrophic flooding. To understand the driving mechanisms behind this disaster, we investigated the combined roles of extreme precipitation, sinkhole (ponor) blockage, and local engineering failures. Using high-resolution NASA IMERG meteorological datasets, we constructed a dual-axis chronological model to quantify the rapid response and minimal lag time between precipitation peaks and the subsequent expansion of inundated areas. Furthermore, we mapped the spatiotemporal evolution of the flood using a time-series of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, processed via SNAP and analyzed in a GIS environment. A targeted spatial bottleneck analysis—incorporating ALOS PALSAR DEM and road vector data—revealed that the D687 highway embankment effectively acted as an impermeable artificial dam. This barrier severely disrupted the natural surface flow, trapped the floodwaters, and ultimately caused the complete submersion of the highway itself. Furthermore, field observations and spatial land use (LULC) data confirmed that sediment and debris, exacerbated by upstream quarrying activities, physically clogged the ponors and crippled the karst system's vertical drainage capacity. This cascading failure highlights a crucial lesson: treating active karst poljes as standard topographic basins during infrastructure planning inevitably leads to disaster. Our findings underscore the critical need for spatial planning that respects natural karst hydrodynamics, supported by continuous monitoring networks.