SEZA NUR ALPDÜNDAR/İZMİR, (DHA)
Created on: July 7, 2024 16:47
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Prof. Dr. Dogan Yaşar pointed out that the ground in Izmir is collapsing by 1.5 centimeters every year. Prof. Dr. Yaşar said, “Izmir’s biggest problem is not transportation, nor the smell of the bay, nor pollution, nor anything else. There is only one thing in the long term – collapse. If we do not take preventive measures, seawater can reach Basmane within 50-60 years.”
Izmir is experiencing 1-1.5 centimeters of land collapse every year, and sea level rise is above average. This situation puts the risk of coastal areas, especially Alsancak Kordon, being flooded in the coming years on the agenda. The biggest problem in Izmir is the problem of urban collapse, said Professor Doğan Yaşar, member of the Working Group on Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). Dr. Doğan Yaşar said, “In the world, the sea level rises about 2.5-3 millimeters every year. In Izmir, this figure reaches 1.5 centimeters. Because Izmir is collapsing. Izmir is a reclaimed area from Basmane to Alsancak. The reclaimed area will also be affected by sea level rise. It is the weight of the buildings. “They are collapsing slowly because they are under load,” he said.
“When we build buildings, we need to create a sense of luxury.”
According to the professor, during the rains of November 26-27, 2023, which affected the city, water invaded Alsancak up to about 300-400 meters. Dr. Yashar said, “This is a warning, because next time more water will come in. You can see shells in Basmane that are thousands of years old. Once upon a time, it was the sea. No matter how much we fill the sea, if we do not take precautions, the sea will come and fill the place while the building is being built. ” The elevation needs to be increased. When the construction was carried out, the tender specifications stated that “it will be built at least 1.5 meters above the maximum tide level.”
In 1927, the Yanik Yurt newspaper wrote that the bay had collapsed by 50 centimeters. The same is written in Çevat Korkut Hodja’s book “Izmir Rutüm Imtiyaz.” Alsancak collapsed by 1-1.5 centimeters. “After the November rains, it collapsed, so a lot of water entered,” he said.
He said a similar situation exists in Jakarta and Mexico City. “The collapse there is much faster. It is collapsing by 10 to 15 centimetres per year. They have found a solution by evacuating the area and are slowly moving away from it because it is impossible to deal with the speed of nature,” Dr. Yashar said.
“Code smell”
Prof. Dr. Dogan Yaşar said that Izmir’s biggest problem is collapse, and that “Izmir’s biggest problem is not transportation, the smell of the bay, pollution or anything. There is only one event in the long term – collapse. The collapse will continue.” If preventive measures are not taken, seawater can reach Basmane in 50 years. Right now, there is a sewage smell in Alsancak, which is why the second cordon will be flooded. The cord remains in the hole. The municipality needs to work with geoscientists to conduct a detailed study of the collapse. 50 years is a long time, but it comes suddenly and hits you. ” he said.
The professor said that if the city collapses by another 50 centimeters, it will not matter what we do. Dr. Yashar said, “Building a set is not a solution. There is no point in building a wall. It will increase the elevation and it will be very expensive, but it is a matter of choice. Otherwise, we will gradually abandon the area and evacuate it.”