IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlumade statements at AKOM about the precipitation expected to be effective in the city. Stating that they are on the field with 4 personnel and 625 vehicles and equipment, İmamoğlu made an important warning about concrete mixers. Sharing the information that some concrete mixers were washed in uncontrolled areas, there was a blockage in the gratings, İmamoğlu said, “This concrete mixer issue seems like a simple issue, but the cost can be very heavy. In the background, a house can be flooded. God forbid it could go to other things. I would like to announce to all our citizens that please do not leave such environmentally harmful wastes in such rain channels, and that they should behave carefully.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğlumade statements at the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) regarding the precipitation expected to be effective in the city. Stating that the expected rain in Istanbul was not as effective as expected, İmamoğlu said, “The process continues. With the rain warning made by both AFAD and AKOM on this issue, our institution has been on alert since the beginning of this week, has increased its measures regarding the process by taking it out of its routine and is in intense work. At the moment, the managers of all our relevant institutions are here. We run the control from here. Across Istanbul, our 4 personnel, who are fully ready, are on the field at the moment. With 625 vehicles and equipment, he continues to work on the response to this heavy rain, having prepared for the difficulties our citizens will experience.
“EXPECTED RAIN DID NOT TAKE PLACE”
Stating that the rain started in Arnavutköy, Eyüpsultan, Başakşehir districts as of yesterday and that it was effective in Çatalca, Silivri, Esenyurt, Beylikdüzü and Avcılar regions in the following hours, İmamoğlu said, “There was no significant setback in this effective precipitation that would make our people suffer. Later, as of this morning, heavy rain was expected on the Istanbul Bosphorus line, but there was no such precipitation yet, it did not happen. In the light of the information conveyed to us by our meteorologist friends here, the rain has shifted towards the east of Istanbul and there is a prediction that it will be more effective on the Kocaeli and Sakarya lines as of now. Until 15.00, Istanbul is within the scope of this possibility, but it is expected to be more effective in our eastern districts, namely on the Şile, Pendik, Kartal and Tuzla line.
“PAST NEGLIGENCE CAN PUT ISTANBUL IN DIFFICULTY”
Noting that the field, control and management teams continue to work in a coordinated manner, İmamoğlu said, “Of course, one of the problems we experience in disaster processes; If some omissions from the past are not remedied, the process can put Istanbul in trouble. But I must assert that; I can say that we have solved a serious problem part of Istanbul's infrastructure, together with İSKİ and our units such as Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Science Works, for almost 2,5 years. But our investments continue. I want Istanbul residents to know that we have invested more than 11 billion dollars. However, at the points where there are heavy rains and instantaneous drops, the investment you make or even the good infrastructure there may not be enough for this.” Expressing that they are trying to establish healthy communication with the headmen and 39 district municipalities in times of disaster, İmamoğlu made the following warnings:
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THREATS WITH PENALTY”
“The efforts of our teams working for tens of thousands of Istanbul are very valuable. Likewise, the efforts of our district municipalities outside the city are very valuable. However, we would like to share with our citizens other factors that should be considered in such events. It would not be wrong to say that the number of our control lines related to the infrastructure, which we describe as rain channels, battlements or control towers in Istanbul, is millions. Istanbul is a vast geography and one of the most important metropolises of the world. Here I would like to express: This requires great precision. Especially sometimes we find that some wastes are left in these channels, we write penalties. These penalties can be of several types. Since it carries such threats, we can carry it to higher penalties. However, it is not possible to fix this with punishment. We invite all institutions, organizations and individuals to this sensitivity, all our citizens. I wish all our citizens to report this matter to us with sensitivity. For example; washing the concrete mixers and leaving its own concrete in a grate can block the channel of a district municipality and flood an area within its jurisdiction. It is therefore worthwhile not to do them. This concrete mixer issue seems like a simple matter, but it can be very costly. In the background, a house can be flooded. God forbid it could go to other things. I would like to announce to all our citizens that no one should leave such environmentally harmful wastes in such rain channels, and that they should behave carefully.”
ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION
Emphasizing the importance of institutional and inter-institutional cooperation in times of disaster, İmamoğlu said, “In a metropolis like Istanbul, even in a megapolis, the communication and dialogue of institutions is not a matter of criticizing each other, by making a different description of each other, but by having a culture of common service to the people of Istanbul, both before and after reasonable communications. I would like to emphasize that it is also important. We are honored and proud to serve the people of Istanbul together with our administrators here and thousands of my fellow workers in the field. I hope that the rain that shifts to the east of Istanbul today will leave our city without causing any damage or any flood or accumulation. It is especially valuable for us that the rains in the west of Istanbul yesterday contributed to our dams, albeit very little. Our citizens can contact our ALO 153 Solution Center on any issue. Emphasizing that there is a team in Istanbul ready to help and support the neighboring provinces and district municipalities, as always, in case of difficulties to be faced in possible developments in Kocaeli and Sakarya regions, I wish all Istanbulites a good day.
In the statement, İmamoğlu was accompanied by İBB Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar, İSKİ General Manager Şafak Başa and officials of all departments and units of İBB.
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