Basement floors to be examined: minister

ORDU - Doğan News Agency

The ground floor of many homes were flooded in the disaster, causing 5 deaths. DHA photo

The Samsun Governor’s Office has warned of heavy rains for the weekend while Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar has said the apartments of doormen on the ground floor of the affected buildings will be re-examined.

Heavy rain will continue until July 9, the governor’s statement said.

Bayraktar visited the Black Sea province of Ordu and answered questions about the flood disaster after visiting Samsun to examine the flood area on July 6. Bayraktar stated that porter apartments (basement apartments) must be built on the same level as other apartments.

 “According to the regulations made by this law and the municipalities, both porter apartments and basements floors can be inhabited. By basement floors, I mean the apartments that are built with windows that are 50 cm above the floor of the room. In Samsun, the windows were 90 cm above the floor of the room. But still, the conditions must be reviewed,” Bayraktar said.

“Porter apartments must be built at the same level as the other ones. We will examine our own system, laws and regulations about this issue. Reexamining this subject is essential both for disasters and the quality of lives.” the Minister said.