Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci met with representatives of non-governmental organizations in the city at the 6th Regional Directorate of Adana State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and evaluated the latest situation in the city after the earthquakes.
Expressing that studies are carried out to determine the damage levels of buildings under the coordination of the Provincial Directorate of Environmental Urbanization and Climate Change in order to ensure the normalization of life, Kirişci stated that in addition to 13 buildings destroyed throughout the province, 23 buildings were found to be heavily damaged and 120 buildings moderately damaged.
Kirişci stated that 640 buildings were slightly damaged and 2 thousand 105 buildings were undamaged, according to the first investigations, and continued as follows:
“A study was conducted on the point that 2 thousand 901 of the 2 thousand 745 buildings, which were first analyzed in Adana, or 95 percent, were intact or slightly damaged. 11 buildings destroyed in the city center are also in Çukurova district, 16 buildings are heavily damaged, 93 buildings are moderately damaged, 490 buildings are slightly damaged and 1365 buildings are not damaged. The rate of slightly damaged or undamaged buildings, which is 95 percent throughout the province, is 94 percent here. The determinations we have made are the determinations submitted to the knowledge of the citizens. Our citizens can easily see which building is damaged and what is the level of damage or which building is habitable via e-Government. We will also have units in our district governorships to assist them in these matters.”
Underlining that the capacity in the dormitories is 11, Kirişci said that they set up tents in the fairground, youth camp, area opened by a private school and where there are neighborhood markets, and the organizations they provide, from mobile toilets to hot food distribution, run smoothly.
Kirişci stated that they provided safe accommodation for a total of 35 thousand citizens in Adana.
Underlining that the damage assessment works will continue without hesitation, Kirişci announced that they will regularly share these with the public.
LATEST STATUS ON DAMS
Kirişci stated that there are 2 important dams in Adana and made the following assessments:
“There is not the slightest problem. We don't get tired of working, but we are really tired of disinformation. This is what demoralizes us as a nation. First, it was said that there are cracks in the Atatürk Dam. Even the international media used it in some way. I and my DSI team made a physical examination of the dam both from the air and on its body. We have determined that there is no situation that can be called the slightest problem. We also shared these. Then they made the news that the Al Rastan Dam on the Orontes River, belonging to the Syrian regime, had exploded. However, the action was the opening of the dam covers due to excessive rainfall. The flow of water, which was 15 cubic meters per second, increased to 130 cubic meters per second. The fact that the Amik Plain, which collapsed about 1 meter down with this earthquake, went down 1 meter, brought along a negative situation in terms of water level. It caused puddles in the surrounding area, including the airport. We have taken all of them in a timely manner. We gave some of the water here to the Afrin Canal. Currently, the water flow here has decreased from 130's to 75's. It is under our control.”
Regarding the Yarseli Dam in Hatay, Minister Kirişci stated that the disinformation made by saying "there is an eruption, the dam will flood this place soon" instilled fear in the people carrying out the rescue efforts in Hatay, causing them to terminate the work and leave the scene of the incident.
Pointing out that they carried out an on-site inspection of this dam, Kirişci said:
“There may always be some cracks on the surface of the dam in front of the dams we call crest, which is not facing the water side, but facing the downstream side, and we made those assessments, taking into account the importance of their size. We also controlled the entrance and exit of the rate, we did not allow it to be used. There may be an ulterior motive, in case it can be used for other purposes… All the technical studies that need to be done are also continuing. We have 140 dams and ponds. 110 of them are dam hydroelectric power plants and 30 of them are ponds. 172 hydroelectric power plants in the private sector… There is no problem with these 172 dams in the private sector. We have made the necessary water discharges in Arıklıkaş in Osmaniye and Sultansuyu dams in Malatya on time. We can easily say that water does not have any negative effects on our region and settlements in our region due to the earthquake. Our work on this continues rapidly.”
“ADANA BECOME A LOGISTICS CENTER”
Underlining that 13 personnel are working in the field, Kirişci said that 329 aircraft, 1 helicopters, 5 aircraft, 6 machinery and equipment are actively used in rescue works.
Explaining that the machinery park of DSI and the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) is also used intensively, Kirişci emphasized that all units affiliated to the Ministry are on the field.
Kirişci stated that although the number of collapsed buildings in Adana and the damage caused by the earthquake were low, they performed an important function as a city and concluded his words as follows:
“Currently, our hospitals provide a great service as a regional hospital. Almost all of our citizens who received service here were our brothers from Antakya and Hatay. There are also two airports. These also carry out their duties as a center completely. We have become a logistics center. We can now formally state this. Hopefully, we will show more of our work here in the surrounding provinces. We are making an effort to help Hatay with more equipment, tools, machinery and human resources.”
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