Captured by Emin Özmen in 2018, children play on the roof of a partially sunken mosque in the village of Savaşan, Turkey.
In 2018, Turkish photographer Emin Özmen captured a striking scene of children playing on the roof of a partially submerged mosque in Savaşan, Turkey. Much of the village was flooded after the construction of the Birecik Dam on the Euphrates River, leaving only the upper portion of the mosque and its distinctive minaret rising above the water.
The photograph contrasts the lasting impact of a major infrastructure project with the resilience and adaptability of everyday life. As the children turn the flooded mosque into a summer playground, the image reflects both the loss of a historic community and the enduring ability of people to find moments of joy amid dramatic change.