Downpour paralyzes life in Karabük: 45 kilograms of rainfall per square meter

Following warnings from the General Directorate of Meteorology, heavy rainfall that has been effective for 2 days in Karabük has paralyzed life. Homes and businesses were flooded in many parts of the city. After the downpour, which saw 45 kilograms of rainfall per square meter, businesses in the 100. Yıl neighborhood were also flooded. Many parked vehicles were submerged in water.

CITIZENS RESCUED BY BOATS

Citizens trapped in businesses in areas that turned into lakes were rescued by AFAD and municipal teams with the help of boats. As the clogged drains were cleared, the water receded, and cleaning efforts were initiated in the area where broken-down vehicles were removed by tow trucks.

Governor Mustafa Yavuz, accompanied by deputies Cem Şahin, Ali Keskinkılıç, and Mayor Özkan Çetinkaya, conducted inspections in the area. Speaking to journalists, Governor Yavuz said, “Today, in the evening hours, around 18.30-19.00, there were some disruptions in traffic following excessive rainfall in both the center of Karabük and our Safranbolu district. Along with this, reports of flooding were received from the lower floors of some of our homes and the lower floors of some of our shops and businesses. In some points, due to the intensity of the wind accompanying the rainfall, there were trees toppled on our roads and in some of our areas.”

Emphasizing that rainfall warnings were issued to citizens, Governor Yavuz stated, "Because of this, we intervened as soon as the rainfall started, together with our Karabük Municipality, our AFAD, our highways department, and all our other institutions. There was a short traffic interruption of approximately 30-45 minutes due to water on the Karabük-Kastamonu road route where we are currently located. Both our municipality, our highways department, and our AFAD have now opened the road to traffic."

"APPROXIMATELY 45 REPORTS WERE MADE"

Stating that approximately 45 reports were left to the 112 Emergency Call Center, Yavuz said, "Our friends are evaluating these reports one by one. We are already going to the locations and carrying out interventions. Honestly, we have started to return to normal little by little. Along with this, our traffic is returning to normal. On the other hand, our friends are carrying out cleaning work on one hand and making their assessments there regarding our shops on the lower floors of these homes and businesses."

Yavuz said that the assessment of the damage to homes and businesses due to the flooding would be carried out by AFAD, the Tax Office, and the Property Directorate.

Explaining that 45 kilograms of rainfall per square meter fell in a time frame of approximately half an hour, Yavuz said, “Over 50 kilograms of rainfall fell towards the Upper Kapullu side. Of course, this sudden rainfall inevitably causes such disruptions, but because we were prepared, we are returning to normal by intervening together with our municipality, our AFAD, our highways department, and all our institutions.”

Yavuz conveyed that they want citizens to be cautious against the rainfall warnings issued.

News Source: İHA