Heavy rainfall hits Trabzon: Roads collapse, landslides occur

Due to the flooding, water accumulated on roads, and homes and businesses on the ground floors of buildings were flooded. Collapses also occurred on some roads in the 3 districts where landslides were experienced in places.

Teams from relevant institutions such as the DSI, AFAD, and the Municipality are continuing their work in the affected areas with the help of heavy machinery.

Arsin Mayor Hamza Bilgin stated that he was in the field with the teams and said, "Our teams are trying to intervene, but there was a very heavy downpour, and it is still continuing."

"WE WILL ENSURE EVERYONE REACHES THEIR HOME"

Trabzon Governor Aziz Yıldırım said that the downpour, which started around 16:00, was effective in the Araklı, Arsin, and Sürmene districts.

Stating that flooding occurred, Yıldırım said, "Thank God, we have no loss of life or property, but there are people stranded on the road because those are busy roads. People coming from both the highlands and rural neighborhoods are stranded on those roads; we are trying to rescue them. All our teams are with me, and we are all at the scene together."

Expressing that road clearing efforts are ongoing, Yıldırım said, "We will continue until we open them. We have made the announcement from the Governor's Office, and we have specifically warned our citizens not to set out in that direction. Hopefully, we will safely rescue those stranded on the road and ensure everyone reaches their home. All our teams are working right now."

GOVERNOR YILDIRIM INSPECTED THE FLOOD ZONE

Governor Yıldırım inspected the Atayurt area of the Araklı district, where flooding and landslides occurred, and received information from officials regarding the work.

In his statement after the inspection, Yıldırım said that very serious rainfall occurred in the eastern districts of Trabzon, especially in mountainous areas and valleys.

Stating that some side streams caused flooding as a result of the rainfall, Yıldırım made the following assessment:

"Because the flood came to our roads from the side, it blocked the culverts and overflowed the road. In some places, as you can see here, work is being done; there are small landslides and debris. This road goes up to the Santa Ruins; it is the old Bayburt road. Those coming from the Santa Ruins, those coming from the highlands, and those coming from the neighborhoods who want to reach the city cannot pass because of this debris on the roads; they are waiting right now. We are trying to open the roads. Both the DSI, the Metropolitan Municipality, and the district municipalities, all our teams are working right now. The incident has been reported to our Minister, the Minister of Interior, the Deputy Minister, and the AFAD President; they are already on alert. We need time."

Yıldırım stated that the gendarmerie, district governors, and the crisis center are on duty, saying, "I am here too, we are all together. We are making an effort, and hopefully, we will open them as soon as possible. So far, we have no loss of life or property, and we have not yet experienced any danger regarding this; hopefully, we will not experience it from now on either. We are just waiting."

On the other hand, power outages occurred in some places in the district center. Citizens whose workplaces were flooded are trying to drain the water with municipal teams. The teams are also continuing their work to open clogged drains.

PATIENTS AT ARAKLI BAYRAM HALİL STATE HOSPITAL TRANSFERRED

Following the downpour in the Araklı district, the Araklı Bayram Halil State Hospital in Özgen Neighborhood was also flooded.

UMKE and AFAD teams evacuated 38 patients and 30 staff from the Emergency Service entrance. First, the patients in the Intensive Care Unit were taken to an off-road vehicle on stretchers, and then they were transferred to nearby hospitals by ambulances.

With the evacuation of other patients and staff, the hospital was emptied.

Araklı District Governor Yusuf Akın and Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Gürkan Üçüncü also followed the work at the scene.

METROPOLITAN MAYOR GENÇ INSPECTED THE REGION

Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç conducted an inspection in Araklı.

Genç told reporters in front of the Araklı Bayram Halil State Hospital that they had received 265 reports from 28 neighborhoods in the Araklı, Arsin, Sürmene, and Yomra districts, which received above-average rainfall.

Stating that the Metropolitan and district municipalities, as well as the Rize Municipality, provided heavy machinery support, Genç stated that the teams rescued a child from a landslide in the Arsin district, and that there was a problem regarding transportation for one person in the Sürmene district, but there was no loss of life for now.

Emphasizing that they are trying to reach the 28 neighborhoods from which they received reports, Genç said, "We will see the picture regarding damage assessment more clearly tomorrow."

Reiterating that they continue to work in the field with all state institutions and organizations, Genç said, "We are trying to help our citizens with their transportation."

Pointing out that water had also accumulated in the hospital, Genç said, "There was a problem with our emergency patients and patients in intensive care, but we overcame that too. We ensured the necessary evacuations."

Conveying his best wishes to those affected by the downpour, Genç noted the following:

"Our AFAD, our fire department, our TİSKİ, and our neighboring municipalities are joining hands to eliminate this significant problem. We are making all our warnings from our municipality, including through loudspeakers. Let us do it now through you as well, because the water risk occurs in those stream beds; therefore, we are warning all our citizens about this."

On the other hand, landslides also occurred on the Özdil-Oymalı, Taşdelen, Yenice, and Gülyurdu group roads in the Yomra district following the downpour.

Teams are continuing their work in the region where transportation problems are being experienced.

News Source: AA