A GIS-Based investigation of the causes of the flood disaster in the city center of Şanlıurfa (Türkiye) in 2023

Abstract

Flood events have occurred frequently in various periods in Şanlıurfa (Türkiye). There were
83 floods between 1950 and 2018 within the borders of Şanlıurfa and most of these floods
also affected the city centre. The most recent flood in the city centre of Şanlıurfa took place on
March 15, 2023, and 16 people lost their lives in this disaster. In addition, 27 residential
buildings, 234 workplaces, 19 schools, 8 mosques and 3 underpasses were damaged in 1978
neighbourhoods. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the causes of the flood disaster in
Şanlıurfa’ (Türkiye) downtown based on GIS. For this purpose, the natural factors
(precipitation, slope, lithology, soil) and human factors (structuring in the stream beds,
intervention in the stream bed) that have an effect on the flood have been determined and
mapped using GIS-based software. Each factor has been evaluated in terms of floods turning
into disasters. The flood event in the study area was caused by various natural factors such as
slope, soil characteristics, lithological features and weakness of vegetation, especially due to
excessive and sudden downpours. Human factors (construction in the floodplain of
Karakoyun, Cavsak, and Karaköprü streams) were effective in the event's becoming a disaster.