Ondokuz Mayıs University Environmental Problems Research Center, Center Director Prof. Dr. The guest of the talk titled "Western Black Sea Flood and Overflow Disasters in the Context of Climate, Migration and Settlement Problems", conducted by Yüksel Ardalı, is Prof., Head of the Department of Secondary Education Social Areas Geography Education, Faculty of Education, Ondokuz Mayıs University. Dr. It was Cevdet Yılmaz.
At the event organized within the scope of Ondokuz Mayıs University Environmental Problems Research Center Talks, Prof. Dr. Cevdet Yılmaz gave information about the causes and consequences of the flood disaster in the area from Sinop Ayancık to Kastamonu Bozkurt on August 11, 2021, and talked about climate change, flood and overflow risks of rivers, new trends in internal migration, establishment of residential areas in the wrong place, and the subject. He focused on the problems experienced today and what awaits us in the future.
“Floods have caused great destruction in the region in the past too”
Prof. Dr. In his speech, Cevdet Yılmaz stated that the floods in the region were not the first, and that floods had occurred in the past, but since these were generally not recorded or ignored by people and administrators, they were trying to give the impression that these floods were just beginning to occur. He noted that attempts were made to establish a link between flood disasters and global climate changes, but floods had caused great destruction in the region in the past, as seen in the example of the 1931, 1963 and 1964 floods in the Ayancık region.
Providing information about the geographical structure of the region, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz said, “This region is already one of the places with the highest rainfall in Turkey after the Eastern Black Sea Region. Considering that Bozkurt, Türkeli and Ayancık district centers are built on valley bottoms or narrow streams where streams reach the sea, it is not possible for them to be affected by floods. As a matter of fact, Çatalzeytin and Abana district centers in the same area were not affected by floods and floods because they were developed on slopes parallel to the coast, not in the valley.” said.
“Building pressure in district centers should be reduced”
Prof. stated that he was saddened by the large number of casualties during the flood. Dr. Cevdet Yılmaz stated that the settlement pattern in the region and the population movements that force it should be closely followed in order to prevent these events from recurring. Prof. stated that as a result of the retired population in Turkey returning from the city to the countryside, dense construction has emerged in district centers such as Ayancık, Türkeli and Bozkurt. Dr. Yılmaz stated that the demand, which does not fit into the valley bottoms, expands towards the floodplains of the rivers, and when this is not enough, apartment buildings are being built. Stating that the triple lifestyle between the village, the district center and the big city has become widespread, Yılmaz stated that in order to solve the problem, ties with the rural area should be strengthened, and if access to health infrastructure is facilitated and ways to stay in the countryside for a longer period of time are opened, the construction pressure in the district centers can be reduced.
“One of the best examples of state-nation cooperation was exhibited in the flood disaster”
Prof. stated that good examples of state-nation cooperation were exhibited during the flood disaster. Yılmaz said, “The state was on the field and never left. There was no disruption in the coordination of aid and healing efforts through visits by ministers. Bridges were destroyed, roads were closed, but the most remote villages were reached by air transportation with helicopters. Our Armed Forces sent their soldiers and our soldiers played a major role in healing the wounds of the citizens, repairing the destroyed places, removing the debris and cleaning the environment, and they earned the appreciation and love of the citizens. During this flood, the sea route we had forgotten was discovered. "While our expats whose leave season was over were evacuated by the ferry docked at Güzelkent Port, the construction equipment was delivered to the region by landing ship." he said.
“Climate change concerns will play an important role in the future of the region”
Prof. stated that although there is no rush to attribute the flood disasters to changing climate conditions, climate-related concerns will play an important role in the future of the region. Dr. Cevdet Yılmaz continued his words as follows; “Global climate changes will affect our climate comfort in terms of heating in winter and cooling in summer. Warming weather will start from our southern provinces and direct people towards the north or higher altitudes. One of the target areas for Turkey will be this area where floods and floods occur. Because the region will be a center of attraction in the near future with its mild climate, rich vegetation and unspoilt nature. For all these, we need to be more sensitive to the settlement problems we will encounter both today and in the future and produce solutions today. "Otherwise, we must accept the fact that the construction pressure on the plateaus in the Eastern Black Sea region will begin in this region as well, and that people want to live in different places throughout the year, not in one place, as a second or third home, and we must produce appropriate solutions for this," he said.
