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Following the snowfall that began on February 3 and continued incessantly for 11 hours, Turkey's Aegean province of Isparta has been faced with a power cut. As the electricity has been off, combi boilers do not work in the city with nearly 500 thousand inhabitants. Citizens wear coats and wrap themselves in blankets at home and use candles and oil lamps for light.
Amid these tough conditions, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Sönmez came to the city three days after the power cut. Accompanied by Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Süreyya Sadi Bilgiç and Vice Minister of Interior Responsible for the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the Minister inspected the fixing of power lines.
Announcing that the number of the teams making efforts to end the power cut in the city has been increased by 5-6 times, he has said that the problem will be resolved in the shortest time possible.
According to the Minister's statement, nearly 93 percent of the 299 thousand electricity subscribers are provided with electricity. Dönmez has also noted that 113,236 subscribers were without electricity in the beginning while this number has dropped to 20 thousand subscribers.
He has vowed to "reduce the effects of this catastrophe as soon as possible and make life return to normal in Isparta."
1 person allegedly froze to death
On the other hand, it was reported that Ramazan Nazlı, a 70-year-old citizen living alone, was found dead at his house.
Living in the Yalvaç district, Nazlı did not leave his house for a few days. Seeing this, his neighbors called the police. Police found the dead body of Nazlı at his house. The deceased body of the citizen has been taken to the morgue of the Yalvaç Public Hospital for an autopsy.
Governor's Office dismisses the allegations
Making a statement about the incident, the Governor's Office of Isparta has dismissed the allegations that Nazlı's passing was "caused by the electricity cut". According to the Governor's Office, the neighborhood where Nazlı lived had electricity. Referring to the examination at his house, the Office has said that Nazlı had a heating stove at his house, but was not using it.
The Governor's Office has announced that an administrative and judicial investigation has been launched into his suspicious death.
In-class education suspended for 5 days
The Governor's Office of Isparta has also announced that "in-class education" has been suspended in the province for 5 days.
Accordingly, due to adverse weather conditions, the educational institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education will be closed for five days starting from today (February 7) and distance education will be offered to students during this period. (HA/SD)
