Mayor Ömer Eşki Briefs the Municipal Council on Ongoing Efforts

Speaking at the February Ordinary Meeting of the Bornova Municipal Council, Mayor Ömer Eşki announced that comprehensive operations were carried out in 17 neighborhoods with 318 personnel and 42 pieces of heavy machinery following the heavy rainfall. Stating that an “Items on Hold” (Askıda Eşya) solidarity campaign will be launched for homes affected by the flooding, Eşki emphasized that efforts will continue to produce permanent solutions at flood-prone locations and to carry out stream cleaning works in coordination with İZSU.

The February Ordinary Meeting of the Bornova Municipal Council was held at the Nevzat Kavalar Cultural Center Council Hall under the chairmanship of Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki. The main agenda of the meeting was the flood disaster caused by days of heavy rainfall and the response efforts carried out by Bornova Municipality on the ground.

Intensive Operations in 17 Neighborhoods with 318 Personnel and 42 Machines

Providing detailed information to council members, Mayor Ömer Eşki underlined that all municipal units were actively deployed in the field. He shared the following details regarding post-flood operations:

• The Municipal Police Department conducted damage assessments in 45 households and 30 workplaces with 30 personnel.

• The Department of Cleaning Services carried out cleaning, washing, canal opening, and vacuum truck operations on 50 streets with 82 personnel and 15 machines.

• The Department of Rural Services performed road maintenance and repair works in 17 neighborhoods with 80 personnel and 14 machines.

• The Department of Parks and Gardens conducted cleaning operations in 45 streets and parks with 126 personnel and 13 machines.

• In total, 318 personnel and 42 machines worked continuously in 17 neighborhoods and 105 different streets.

“Items on Hold” Campaign to Be Launched

Stating that affected residents were not left alone, Mayor Eşki noted that some damaged homes were visited on site. Emphasizing that infrastructure works are ongoing, he announced a new call for solidarity, saying:
“We will launch a campaign called ‘Items on Hold.’ Our aim is to create community support for carpets, household appliances, and other essential needs of affected homes. We want to heal Bornova’s wounds in a short time.”

Permanent Interventions at Flood-Prone Locations

Mayor Eşki stated that locations where water accumulated the most during the flood were examined in detail and that teams were in the field even during nighttime hours. Referring specifically to Cumhuriyet Park in the Rafet Paşa Neighborhood, he said:
“There is a low-lying area where water accumulates during every rainfall. Our teams are currently working on a plan to change the elevation so that water does not pool there and instead flows into the stream. Wherever water accumulation is most severe, we will intervene to the extent of our capacity.”

Joint Efforts with İZSU: “We Must Minimize the Damage”

Emphasizing coordinated work with İZSU on stream cleaning, Mayor Eşki noted that while flood risks cannot be completely eliminated, their impacts can be reduced. He stated:
“Yes, this is a natural phenomenon. We cannot stand in the way of nature. But by learning from past mistakes and adopting a disciplined approach focused on the most problematic areas, we can mitigate the damage. Our goal is to reduce the effects of such heavy rainfall as much as possible.”

A Message of Collective Action for Bornova

Concluding his remarks, Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that Bornova Municipality will continue to remain on the ground with all its resources, stating that the process will be overcome through both technical solutions and social solidarity.