Minister blames climate change for floods near dam construction site

Photos: AA

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Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum yesterday (July 15) visited the northeastern Rize province after it was hit by floods on Tuesday.

Floods also occurred in Artvin, a province neighboring Rize, a day before. Six people were killed and many were injured in the two provinces.

In Çayeli district of Rize, four buildings and 20 workplaces, as well as infrastructure, including a water treatment plant, sewer system and roads were severely damaged, Kurum said.

In Çayeli, floods killed two people on a temporary road built for the construction of a dam. The entrance of a tunnel was completely filled with excavation soil. Environmental defenders in the province had told bianet that even moderate rains would cause floods in the area.

"A few weeks ago, there were also floods in our country. These incidents show that climate events are above seasonal normals. The entire world is affected by this climate change," the minister told reporters.

"If we do not take action, our districts, towns and cities will be seriously affected by this climate change," Kurum noted, adding that they prepared a Climate Change Action Plan for the Black Sea region of the country.

They would demolish as many as 250 buildings and near streams in the district and build 250 new buildings, the minister stated. (EMK/VK)