Landslide in Baku: no victims, but 11 houses will be demolished
Areas in and around Badamdar, a village on the outskirts of Baku that was affected by a large landslide on 12 October, have largely settled save for occasional smaller landslides and soil movement on slopes.
The main landslide occurred on Friday on the right side of the road which connects Badamdar with a residential area named 20th Section. A layer of earth some 250 metres wide and 200 metres in length was affected. The eleven houses located nearby were not damaged, but gas, water and electricity infrastructure was damaged, and residents were asked to temporarily relocate.
An official of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Aziz Garalov says the landslide was indirectly caused by private houses built in the area. As there is no sewage system connected to the houses, wastewater flows directly into the soil and, over time, sets the landslides in motion.
The village of Badamdar is in a landslide zone, with landslides occurring frequently. For example, at the beginning of 2018 around 390 people had to be evacuated due to a landslide. In other words, Badamdar is unsuitable for living. However, over time, a whole residential complex, consisting mainly of illegal buildings, appeared.
Eldar Azizov, the acting head of the executive power of Baku, says that those who once gave permission to build on the unstable land should be held accountable. The area is known for being prone to landslides, something which should have been taken into account. However, who these individuals are and where to find them was not mentioned.
Deputy Prime Minister Hajibala Abutalybov stated that the 11 houses mentioned will be demolished, and their tenants will not receive any compensation.
