Heavy rains cause landslides in Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
The recent landslides in Azerbaijan have been caused by heavy rains, said Head of the Republican Seismological Service Center Gurban Yetirmishli.
All the observed processes are the result of weather conditions, he added.
Heavy rains have been battering Azerbaijan since the beginning of the autumn season. In early October, rains caused a rise in water levels in some rivers and damaged several households.
“Landslides occur frequently in the foothills of Azerbaijan. Many landslide zones exist in Lerik, Yardimli, on Shamakhi road, Absheron peninsula. Landslides have in the past occurred in Baku in the area near the Alley of Martyrs, on Badamdar, but after the fortification of these areas, these processes have stopped. Therefore, the population has no reason to worry,” Yetirmishli stressed.
In early October, a landslide in front of the bus terminal near Baku 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 to the green areas nearby.
Yetirmishli noted that the fortification of the road at the bus terminal helped stop the spread of a landslide in the area.
The head of the Seismological Center recommended the country minimize irrigation in this territory since landslides are associated with watering trees.
The National Department for Hydrometeorology reported that intermittent rain is expected and will intensify in some areas of Baku and Absheron peninsula on October 29. In the regions of the country, intermittent rain is also expected to intensify in some places.
The number of areas that are prone to landslides in Azerbaijan has increased by four times in the past 24 years. The coming rainy days mean that the danger of landslides will increase.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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