Northern Cyprus is facing big problems with flooding. This happened because of too much rain that came early. The water has filled up the old drainage systems. Many main roads are now closed. Emergency workers have been busy for more than 36 hours in some places. Officials say the problem is also with old water storage areas.
The rain started one day before weather experts thought it would. Because of this, mayors from Lefkoşa to Girne started emergency plans. In the capital city, important streets like Yavuz Gonnolu Street are blocked. The road from Hastane Çemberi to Ortaköy Işıkları is also closed. The Gönyeli Dam is a concern because water levels went up quickly.
Leaders say the current problems are due to old infrastructure. Mehmet Harmancı, the Mayor of Lefkoşa Türk Belediyesi, said the old water ponds have lost their ability to hold water. They are full of mud and cannot store water like before. "These ponds should hold water during dry times," he said. "Now they cannot. This causes floods." The Gönyeli pond holds much less water than it used to. This means it cannot take in sudden water.
Teams are working hard to fix things. In Girne, Mayor Murat Şenkul called it a disaster. Workers are removing fallen trees and fixing dangerous spots. They are also clearing mud from drains. "This is a big problem for us," Şenkul said. "Everyone is working very hard." In Beyarmudu, all town staff stayed at work all night. They were ready for any new problems.
The flooding causes more than just traffic jams. Cities can get damaged again and again. Town money is being used a lot for these big problems. One street, Yavuz Gonnolu Street, has a special problem. It is lower than the nearby river. Normal drains do not work there. Fixing these problems will need a lot of money for new infrastructure.
This event shows the effect of changing weather and old public buildings. Northern Cyprus is having more extreme weather. It is very important to manage the environment better. Modernizing infrastructure is now a top need for safety.