Baku: Flood incidents in Azerbaijan have increased more than 80 times over the past 10 years, said Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva during a panel discussion at the “III National Urban Forum” held in Baku, APA-Economics reports.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, Taghiyeva highlighted that the duration of droughts has risen by 80%, with the number of days experiencing temperatures above 30 degrees increasing sixfold. Furthermore, forest fires have quintupled, and strong winds exceeding 25 meters per second have occurred 12 times more frequently. Rainfall events have also increased sixfold, underscoring the urgent need for an advanced early warning system.
Taghiyeva stated that the volume of water entering Azerbaijan has decreased by 30%. She cited an instance in April when precipitation in Baku exceeded the average three-month norm in just one day, tragically resulting in the loss of two lives. Another example from January 18, 2019, involved a windstorm with speeds reaching 40 meters per second, which damaged infrastructure in Baku. In response to timely warnings, the government opted to suspend classes in schools on days deemed risky. During one such event, the roof of a school in Baku collapsed at a time students would typically be outside, but coordinated efforts between government agencies helped prevent potential casualties.