Citizens evacuate homes under AFAD supervision following landslide in Rize

Security measures remain in place in the Eskipazar neighborhood of the district, where a mass of soil slid behind a 6-story apartment building two days ago.

Residents who were evacuated from their homes due to the landslide risk are removing their necessary belongings with the help of a Çayeli Municipality fire truck, under the supervision of AFAD teams.

Çayeli Mayor İsmail Hakkı Çiftçi told reporters that they had experienced a distressing incident in the district.

Stating that they could not intervene in the area on the first day due to rain, Çiftçi said, "We waited for the weather to clear. The season is also rainy. Rain is expected again in a few days."

Noting that they are acting more cautiously due to the rain while working, Çiftçi said, "We are acting with more caution because rain could trigger a larger disaster in the area where we are working. AFAD has initiated work to drain rainwater before we begin our operations in the area where the landslide occurred. We will minimize the entry of water into that region."

Stating that the municipality and AFAD are working on the buildings, Çiftçi continued as follows:

"For the future, we have been working with engineers and technical teams for two days on 'What can be done to ensure these events do not happen here again?' We have reached a conclusion. Since the area behind the buildings is very steep, it is not easy to bring in heavy machinery and start working there immediately. There is steep and soft ground. We will move the soil using a shaving and terracing method to reach the ground below. There is virtually no space to take the soil from behind the buildings outside. We will try to remove the soil that we throw from top to bottom by entering through the shops. We have foreseen such a study. Our concern is that the precipitation will start again in 1-2 days. Work is being carried out with the mindset of 'Let our work not trigger a landslide.'"

Çiftçi also stated that a coordination meeting was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş, and said:

"As a result of the reports issued by AFAD here, there may also be a possibility of complete demolition. First, the debris must be removed. Work must be done to remove the water-saturated soil. The soil has become like a sponge. Since it is a very steep area, we cannot enter until the soil dries. We are planning that.

After those works are finished, work regarding the buildings will be done, such as 'Should the buildings be moved elsewhere?' This is also one of the possibilities on the table. If there is no problem with the buildings, [the goal is] for citizens to continue their old lives here by making minor improvements and taking precautions in the area behind. Provided that the elements that threaten human life are removed. The moves we make must be the right moves."