“20-30 People Died After the Dam”

Following the death of 5 people in a dam reservoir in the southeastern province of Siirt yesterday, bianet contacted Cumhur Kılıççıoğlu, a local journalist, who claimed that at least 20 to 30 drowned since the dam reservoir was established. 

It has been reported that while 5 people were dead, another person is still missing. 

“We have warned the officials several times,” he continued. “Around 20 - 30 people drowned here so far due to the rising of reservoir levels. They have put up signs, but nobody can read and write here. Then they put a warning system, but how will people hear when they are swimming? They must have additional guards to warn people before the reservoir is released. 

“Officials are warning the people every summer through the local press. It is too hot, nowhere to take a breath. There is no picnic space. Deaths occur mostly during the summertime. Whenever there is need for electricity, there reservoir levels are released.”

“The warning system is insufficient and authorities must make sure that people left the reservoir,” Istanbul Chamber of Construction Engineers Cemal Gökçe said. 

“The reservoir is used for purposes like electricity, irrigation and providing of potable water. Sometimes it might rain, channels might have an overload of water. Then you can evict the overload by releasing the reservoirs. 

“However releasing of water by itself should never be allowed. It may harm agricultural fields and people. The release must be performed in the supervision of technicians. 

“They are talking that the incident occurred during the activation of two units for electricity production. This is something not inspected. It must have been inspected though. I suppose there is a negligence here. Announcements and warnings are never enough. You can never release the reservoir without making sure that people left there.”

The aforementioned reservoir (Alkumru Dam and Hydyro-electric Power Plant) is located on Botan River, a branch of Tigris. 

Composed of three main units, the power plant is capable of producing 280 MWs. 

Owner Limak Group, one of the partners for Istanbul’s third bridge, operates/builds 23 dam and hydyro-electric power plant projects. (NV/BM)

* Photo credit: Fecri Barlık - Siirt/AA

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.