Azernews.Az

President Ilham Aliyev met Tuesday with the residents of the Sabirabad region who were temporarily moved to tent-camps following devastating floods that have swept across Azerbaijan, damaging homes and arable land, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
President Aliyev also held a meeting in the town of Shirvan to discuss ways of eliminating the consequences of the disaster, which was caused by the rising level of the Kura river.
Torrential rains that occured in the last few days have caused Kura to overflow, flooding 40 Azerbaijani regions. 20,000 homes have flooded, over 300 homes collapsed, and 2,000 houses have been severely damaged. Also, 50,000 hectares of arable land and pastures were flooded. Dams collapsed, leaving twelve Sabirabad villages under water, and local residents were evacuated to safety.
1,500 people from nine Sabirabad villages have been settled in 176 make-shift tents in Shirvan. While examining the tent camps, the president was informed of the work being done. He was told the population was fully provided with food, drinking water and all basic items, and the warehouses created for the purpose contain ample food supplies.
Aliyev said resolving the day-to-day problems faced by those who suffered from the floods will remain in the government’s focus, noting he was keeping in spotlight the efforts aimed at eliminating the aftermath of the natural calamity. Orders have been issued to surmount these challenges and their fulfillment is under control.
Also, all types of medical services are being provided at the tent camps.
President Aliyev told the meeting that minimizing the impact of the floods was possible strictly due to the pre-emptive measures taken.
"In accordance with the instructions issued, measures in eliminating the aftermath of the natural calamity are being taken by a single team," Aliyev said and ordered to expedite work on reinforcing the shores and building dams.
Earlier, President Aliyev issued orders to develop a comprehensive plan of action for the next two years and to swiftly purchase additional machinery for rescue workers.
The Kura level somewhat subsided on Tuesday, but is expected to rise again in the coming days, with weather forecasters predicting wintry weather until Saturday. Torrential rains are predicted in some regions of the country and hail will hit regions in western Azerbaijan.
Kura is a 1,515 kilometer (941 mile) long river in the Caucasus Mountains entering the Caspian Sea. Starting in northeastern Turkey, it flows through Turkey to Georgia, then to Azerbaijan, where it meets the Araz River. The increasing human use, and eventual damage, of the watershed's forests and grasslands contributed to a rising intensity of floods through the 20th century.*