Two die in flood in newly built bridge crossing opened by Erdoğan three months ago

Photo: Eşber Ayaydın / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Heavy rain fell yesterday and today resulting in floods in Urfa, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Maraş, four provinces of Turkey that were already severely hit by the February 6 earthquakes. Eleven people lost their lives in Urfa. One container was dragged and two people died in Adıyaman. Tents were flooded in Malatya and Maraş.

The underpass on the Abide bridge crossing in the city center of Urfa was totally submerged. The dead bodies of two people were reached today in a vehicle pulled out of the water on the underpass. One person was able to get out swimming. 

The crossing became a symbol of faulty construction on social media. 

Urfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeynel Abidin Beyazgül came to the crossing during the day. However, the Mayor had to leave after protests against him, because the water boosters in the crossing were not operating and it was not possible to drain the flood water. 

Opening ceremony was held three months ago

The bridge crossing which became the symbol of the flood was opened on December 3, 2022, with an opening ceremony that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also participated. 

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance, Nureddin Nebati were also present. 

Öve öve bitiremedikleri Abide kavşağı sular altında kaldı. Bakın daha 3 ay önce Erdoğan o kavşağı açmıştı. Rant politikası, cinayet politikasıdır. Ülkeye verdikleri zararın bedelini halk canıyla ödüyor. pic.twitter.com/meVUio77UY

— Onur Öncü (@oencueonur) March 15, 2023

It was argued that the crossing would "let the city breath," but it was submerged only three months later. 

The contract for the construction of the underpass was awarded to a company named Ohitan for 104 million lira in March 2022. This company which is affiliated with the Gürbağ Group constructed the underpass. 

Halil Bağıban, CEO of the group was on the list of "Top 250 contractors" of the world prepared by ENR and his award was presented to him by Erdoğan. 

(HA/PE)