Rainfall Record in Fethiye

The Fethiye district of Muğla experienced one of the heaviest rainfalls in recent years. According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, while the district typically receives an average of 147 millimeters of rainfall in December, as early as the beginning of October, 146.4 millimeters of rainfall per square meter was recorded in just the past 24 hours. This figure stands as the highest amount of rainfall ever recorded in October.

While the average total rainfall in Fethiye in October is around 26 millimeters, the fact that nearly five times that amount fell in a single day had a devastating effect on the district. Meteorologists emphasized that such intense rainfall is extremely rare.

Municipalities on the Ground, Teams Mobilized

Following the heavy rainfall, flooding occurred at numerous locations in Fethiye. Teams from the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and the Fethiye Municipality worked intensively on the ground starting early in the morning. Heavy machinery, vacuum trucks, and pumps were deployed to drain the water that had accumulated on streets and sidewalks. However, the teams were overwhelmed by the intensity of the rainfall.

Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca personally visited the areas affected by the rain to inspect the efforts on site. In his statement, Karaca said, “We are truly facing a major disaster. For the past two days, the Meteorological Service, our Governor’s Office, our District Governor’s Office, and we have been warning our citizens. We also put our own teams on high alert. However, 130 kilograms of rain fell per square meter in just two hours. Right now, we are on the ground all across Fethiye with the full staff of AFAD, MUSKİ, and the Fethiye Municipality. We are working day and night to ensure the safety of our citizens. “I would like to warn everyone once again: according to meteorological data, heavy downpours are expected to continue next week,” he said.