Statement from IMM regarding the downpours that held Istanbul captive: In cities suffocated by concrete...

Aslan stated, “As of the morning hours, our AKOM Department Head, our Deputy Secretaries General, and our assigned colleagues have been on duty since the early hours of the morning.

As of now, life in Istanbul is returning to normal. Along with the high temperature increases over the last week, we had shared our expectation of rain today with the people of Istanbul and the public.

Our Governorship had issued the necessary warnings, and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality had also issued the necessary warnings. However, as you know, it rains very little in the summer months. The amount of precipitation that falls per square meter in the month of July is normally 22 kilograms. That is, when it rains in a month, an average of 22 kilograms of precipitation falls,” he said.

Aslan provided the following information regarding the latest situation in the city:

“But today; there was a very violent and intense rainfall of 50 kilograms in some points, 57 kilograms in some points, and 40 kilograms in some points within an average of 45 minutes. In other words, the entire amount of rain that falls in a month fell in an average of 40 minutes. In fact, twice that amount fell. So think about it; 22 kilograms fall in a month, and 44-45 kilograms fall in 40 minutes. Therefore, we had made all our preparations, but naturally, instantaneous ponding and water accumulations can occur. For this, we made assignments using our preparations for crisis moments in advance. We are in the field with 5,772 personnel and 2,035 vehicles. We have intervened in 267 points so far.

“It will return to normal” 

Complaints are coming in, such as ‘there is water accumulation,’ ‘a tree has fallen,’ or ‘a drain is clogged,’ and we are intervening immediately with our teams. As of now, the amount of precipitation in Istanbul has decreased. There is a movement from the European side towards the Anatolian side, around Üsküdar and Kadıköy. We expect life to return to normal in terms of precipitation as of 18:00 in the evening. If you encounter a fallen tree, ponding, or any problem in a place you notice, if you inform the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality via 153, we will intervene immediately with all our teams. Although we are currently monitoring various points of Istanbul with cameras and intervening in incidents with our entire team, we must all take care of our Istanbul together in case there is a point that escapes our notice. If there is a point where you have detected a problem, please share it with us immediately. As of now, there is no point left where a major problem is being experienced. Towards the evening, as of the evening, this air mass will leave Istanbul.

“We are not facing a major problem” 

The climate crisis is like this; instantaneous rains, instantaneous heat, instantaneous cooling, instantaneous rainfalls, violent rainfalls... Unfortunately, in cities suffocated by concrete, because the soil cannot absorb the water, and because the rain falls on concrete, it flows and causes serious accumulations, ponding, and blockages. But as you can see, there is nothing left of the old Istanbul. We are not facing a major problem. On this occasion, I would like to convey our thanks to everyone who has contributed from the past to the present, as we have overcome such a heavy rainfall with minimum problems,” he said.