Sancaktepe residents blocked streets in their neighborhood with garbage containers early in the morning to prevent teams from demolishing their houses. Police, in response, tried to disperse the angry crowd with tear gas. When the residents started to throw Molotov cocktails and stones at police, police officers confronted them by firing warning shots into the air and using water cannons and pepper spray. Protestors also threw beehives at police.
After the crowd of protestors dispersed, teams started to demolish buildings constructed without permits on watercourses.
The İstanbul Municipality decision to demolish buildings near watercourses came in the wake of a flood in the city last month that killed over 40 people.
Ten buildings were razed in Sancaktepe yesterday, and the İstanbul Municipality plans to demolish at least 250 others in the area in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, a group of around 200 residents in the Samandıra neighborhood blocked roads to their area starting late Monday to prevent demolition teams from entering. They also set car tires on fire. Police responded to protestors with tear gas and water cannons. After the crowd dispersed, teams started the demolition of the illegally constructed buildings.
İstanbul has a serious problem with flooding, largely due to buildings constructed without permits near watercourses. According to a recent report drawn up by experts, 58 of İstanbul's 174 rivers and streams have the potential to cause flooding. Environment Minister Veysel Eroğlu announced last month that settlements near watercourses would be demolished to ensure public safety against flooding.
