Flood, Flood, Landslide, Avalanche Warning from Ministry of Interior to 81 Provincial Governorships

The Ministry of Interior sent a warning letter to the governorships of 81 provinces, asking them to be careful about floods, landslides, rockfalls and avalanches that may occur with the warming of the weather in regions with heavy snowfall.

In the letter sent to the governorships of the Ministry, it was stated that the heavy snowfalls throughout the country in recent months, and the sudden and rapid melting of the snow accumulated on the summits of the mountains and on the slopes with the warming of the weather in the spring season, may increase the flow rates of the rivers. As a result of this, it was pointed out that disasters and emergency events that may trigger floods, landslides, rockfalls and avalanches may occur.

While it is requested to be prepared before possible disasters and emergencies that may occur with the melting of snow, the measures to be taken are listed as follows:

• In all provinces, sensitive and dangerous areas will be identified throughout the province, including central and rural neighborhoods/villages and forest areas, and measures to be taken for these areas will be determined.
• Relevant institutions, organizations, municipalities, headmen, village guards and citizens will be informed about possible dangers in risky places.
• In settlements located on south-facing slopes; Since the risk of avalanches, floods and landslides will be higher than in other areas, citizens residing in these areas will be warned to be more careful.
• Citizens residing in the Eastern Black Sea and Eastern Anatolian provinces, residing in areas where the rock foundation is deep and inclined, will be warned against the risks, and they will be asked to immediately report any movements such as cracks and cracks in the ground/soil of their residence to AFAD.
• Hazard assessments of critical facilities and infrastructures such as education/training institutions, tourism centers, highways, bridges and viaducts, culverts, energy and communication transmission lines will be carried out by the responsible units and necessary measures will be taken.
• Data entry to the Disaster Management Decision Support System will be completed by the end of this month, by identifying the personnel of public institutions, private sector and non-governmental organizations, whose services may be needed in case of the realization of the identified hazards, and who have sufficient equipment for the response, related to vehicles, construction equipment, machinery and equipment.

Disaster and emergency response services will be carried out in accordance with the Disaster and Emergency Response Services Regulation and the Turkey Disaster Response Plan. In addition, in the provinces where there are settlements that are likely to be exposed to Avalanche Hazard, the Circular on Avalanche Precautions and Intervention Activities published by our Ministry will be followed.