Landslides intensifies in Baku
By Nigar Orujova
New splits were observed along the Baku-Sumgayit highway, said Alemdar Piriyev, a geologist at the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry.
The chief geologist of the geological planning expedition of the National Geological Research Service said the recent landslides caused the news splits.
The new splits appeared in the middle of the road near the Baku International Bus Terminal, where the landslide occurred, he noted.
Piriyev believes that in case of an increase in rainfall and without appropriate actions, the number of splits will only increase.
The geologist added that a part of the retaining wall of the terminal has collapsed in an area where it had been sagging. “Now protective work is underway in this area.”
However, Piriyev warns that it will have no effect, as a true fix would require demolishing the wall to build a new one.
The landslide in front of the bus terminal in the direction of Baku occurred on October 7. It caused a bend in the retaining wall, and large cracks in the terminal, adjacent to the road.
The cause of the landslide is believed to be rainfall, leaking water and excessive irrigation of the green areas nearby.
Earlier, Deputy Transport Minister Musa Panahov said the consequences of the landslide at the bus terminal will be eliminated in the near future.
Moreover, Alemdar Piriyev added that a number of landslide zones have been active around the country.
The geologist said landslide activity has been observed along the 106, 109 and 111-kilometer markers of the Baku-Shamakhi highway.
“Splits widened in the landslide areas in the village Muganli of Shamakhi region, and Khankendi village of Ismayilli region, as well as on the Agsu passing. Activation is observed in landslide areas on the Agsu passing. Due to the fact that there is no heavy rainfall yet and large-capacity vehicles do not move on these areas, landslide zones here activated in a very small extent,” said Piriyev.
At the end of summer, Piriyev warned about inevitable landslides in some areas. He said the most active areas were Absheron, Zig, Astara, Muganli, Ismayilli and the road to the village of Khinalig.
Scientists believe that people are behind 80 percent of the landslides due to agricultural activity, which increases the risk of landslides.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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