18.03.2026 13:45
Due to a landslide around the solid waste storage facility in the Çiğli district of İzmir, 14 houses have been destroyed to date. The severe ground movement that has been ongoing in the area for years continues to pose a significant risk to the surrounding settlements.
Since 1992, the Harmandalı Regular Solid Waste Storage Facility has been operational in the region, and the landslides that began in 2013 have accelerated over time. Due to the pressure created by the facility and the effects of underground waters, massive cracks have formed in the Cumhuriyet and Harmandalı neighborhoods. In the area where roads have been broken and meters of ground displacement have occurred, houses under threat to life and property safety have been gradually evacuated.
"THE MOUNTAINS ARE COLLAPSING"
Despite experts' warnings for urgent drainage and the cessation of waste dumping, the destruction could not be prevented. Dursun Ali Kazar, the former Muhtar of Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, stated that despite raising the issue since 2006, the authorities have ignored the situation. Highlighting the extent of the destruction in the region, Kazar said, "Today, the mountains are collapsing, houses are being destroyed, and roads are sinking. As you can see, even the route of the road has changed. 14 houses have collapsed in the area, and a total of 1,800 people have been affected."
CALL FOR PRECAUTIONS
Kazar, expressing that they are defending their constitutional rights, said, "We are fulfilling our citizenship duty by calling on the authorities. Do not destroy our nature, do not pollute our air. Take the necessary precautions as soon as possible before any loss of life and property occurs. No matter what you say after losses have occurred, you cannot bring back what is gone."
Kazar reminded that the buildings in the region were constructed with permits after ground survey studies, stating, "There are painful examples like the Ümraniye and Erzincan disasters in 1993. We do not want these to happen again. The officials need to identify those who are negligent at this point. Not only the current administration but everyone who has held a position since the beginning of the process is responsible."
CRITICISM OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS
Kazar argued that environmentalists and scientists have remained silent on the Harmandalı issue, saying, "When it comes to Harmandalı, no one speaks up, sees, or pretends not to hear. I have been fighting alone for years. I cannot find words to express my frustration at the insensitivity of environmentalists. Just looking at this road, you can see it has shifted 10-20 meters," he concluded.