This flood will not be forgotten
THE tragic and possibly needless loss of young lives to this week’s flash floods is about to galvanise government into action in the same way as the mountain road school bus accident two years ago. This alone is a tragedy.
Despite the advent of more accurate satellite-based weather forecasting available to anyone with a smartphone, the Girne-Lefkoşa road remained accessible during the worst storm in years.
Yet as the country mops up and debates who should shoulder the blame, no-one in authority could claim that they were unaware of the impending problem — in more ways than one.
Scores of properties have been built in ravines or on watercourses, although the law dictates that such constructions are illegal.
Environmentalists have warned for years that quarrying, deforestation and concreting have robbed the land of its water-holding capacity.
The Vuni Palace Hotel was swamped by February floodwaters eight years ago, sweeping cars aside and necessitating the rescue of hotel and casino guests, one month after Güzelyurt and Lefkoşa were swamped by the same winter rains. Then, there was no loss of life.
But just as speed cameras are erected like monuments to the latest traffic fatality, only the irrevocable loss of human life seems to concentrate hearts and minds.
Some measures were taken back then, but water always finds a way and roads now do duty as their conduit as ravines are filled for profit and convenience.
If government does not take action, individuals do and therein lies the threat, as new constructions or blockages merely send the water elsewhere.
A national plan is needed to stop the havoc — and cleverly designed, could even control and store winter rain against summer drought. Authorities and universities must work together to combat flooding.
In the era of climate change, Nature will no longer forgive, even though officials may forget. Now lost lives sadly stand permanent testament to the danger and will ensure that this flood is never forgotten.