Page 167 - Çevre Şehir ve İklim Dergisi İngilizce - Özel Sayı

Engin Yildiz - İsmail Bulut

1. Introduction

Avalanches are one of the most important natural disasters that pose a
threat to human lives, settlements, infrastructures, touristic areas, ski resorts
and highways. Avalanches are short-term, local, and dynamic mass movements
occurring in mountainous areas, containing not only snow but also rock, soil,
trees, and ice. While they are generally considered events that pose dangers
on mountain slopes, avalanches can occur anywhere when heavy snow and
sloping terrain combine, which makes them extremely hazardous. Regardless
of proximity to mountainous areas, avalanche hazards/risks should be taken
into consideration while planning land use (Rudolf-Miklau et al., 2015).
Due to its geographical structure and climate conditions, Türkiye frequently
faces nature-based threats like avalanches. Especially the avalanches occurring
in Eastern Anatolia and Eastern Black Sea regions bear serious risks that result
in loss of lives and property. According to the data provided by Disaster and
Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), when the avalanche cases in
Türkiye between the dates, 01.01.1950 and 01.06.2018, are examined on a
provincial basis, it is seen that avalanches are generally concentrated in high-
altitude provinces such as Bingöl, Tunceli, Erzincan, and Bayburt. As displayed
in Figure 1, the mountainous areas in Easter Anatolia and Eastern Blacksea
regions are the most sensitive areas in terms of avalanche risk. Due to its high
altitude and topography, Erzurum is one of the important cities under the
risk of avalanche in Eastern Anatolia Region, and 71 avalanche events have
occurred so far in this city (AFAD, 2018).

Figure 1. the number of avalanche cases in Türkiye between the dates,
01.01.1950 and 01.06.201 (AFAD, 2018).

154 Journal of Environment, Urban and Climate