The Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan commented on social media reports claiming that the Amu Darya is drying up. The department assured that the river's flow continues, and the decrease in water level in autumn is a natural seasonal phenomenon.
According to the ministry's information, on October 9, the water level at the hydrological post in Termez was 239 centimeters. This figure was 27 centimeters higher than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, at the Kerki hydrological post, a water discharge of 499 cubic meters per second was recorded, which is 63 cubic meters less than last year.
Furthermore, data was presented on the Nurek Reservoir in Tajikistan, which is located on the Vakhsh River, one of the main tributaries of the Amu Darya. Currently, this reservoir receives 408 cubic meters of water per second and discharges 320 cubic meters. The total water reserve in the reservoir is estimated at 10.54 billion cubic meters.
Experts explained that the decrease in flow and water levels in the rivers in September and October is considered a normal hydrological feature. The period after the end of the irrigation season is used to accumulate reserves in reservoirs to meet the needs of the following year. In the ministry's opinion, the current indicators do not indicate a halt in the flow of the Amu Darya.