Statement from the Chamber of Meteorological Engineers regarding the flood disaster in Istanbul: 'Do not put the responsibility on nature'

While the floods caused by heavy rains in Istanbul and surrounding provinces continue to be discussed, a remarkable statement came from TMMOB Chamber of Meteorological Engineers on the subject.

The chamber reacted to the evaluation of disasters only based on the amount of rainfall and stated that cities were left vulnerable to disasters due to unplanned construction and rent-oriented policies.

In the statement, it was argued that expressions such as "The heaviest rain of the last 84 years" and "The rain that should have fallen in three months fell in one day", which are frequently used by the public, do not provide a sufficient scientific evaluation.

In the statement, it was pointed out that high rainfall values ​​​​were recorded in Istanbul in the past years, and it was stated that the recent rainfalls were expected, and the main question to be questioned was why these rainfalls turned into a great destruction.

The chamber stated that placing the responsibility on rainfall and climate change after disasters prevents the discussion of wrong urbanization policies. It was noted that the discourse of making cities resilient to climate change should not overshadow the problems caused by unplanned construction.

“IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION DISTURBES THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER”

In the statement, it was stated that the reason why regions that have not experienced floods for years are now flooded cannot be explained only by the change in precipitation. It was emphasized that new constructions change stream beds and the natural flow routes of water, which can lead to floods in areas that previously had a low flood risk.

In the statement, some projects carried out under the name of stream improvement were also criticized, and it was stated that interfering with the natural order of water with concrete structures could increase the risks. The chamber questioned the bringing of new rehabilitation projects to the agenda after each disaster and warned that practices that are not based on scientific basis may create new costs and new risks instead of solving the problem.

“THE SOLUTION IS NOT CLOSING STREAKS WITH CONCRETE”

Stating that warnings have been made against flood risk for years, Oda reminded that various warnings have been brought to the agenda since 1943. In the statement, the importance of implementing the Law No. 4373 on Protection Against Flood Waters and Floods was pointed out.

In the planning of cities, not only construction demands; It was noted that meteorological data, geological conditions, soil properties and topographic structure of the land should also be taken into account. It was stated that if these factors are ignored, interventions that change the flow of water may pave the way for new disasters.

The chamber argued that the solution is to protect the natural flows of the streams and make their surroundings safe, rather than trying to control them with concrete walls. It was emphasized that the planned arrangement of stream environments and the protection of the natural routes of water are important in making cities more resilient to disasters.

At the end of the statement, it was stated that the disasters experienced were not inevitable and that the responsibility lies in the understanding of urbanization that does not take into account scientific data, rent-oriented planning and the failure to implement the legislation. The chamber called for the implementation of a public planning approach based on science and law, based on the functioning of nature, rather than fighting against nature.