A tornado hit the village of Deregümü in Isparta on May 15, causing damage to several greenhouses in the area. The tornado, which struck five greenhouses where tomato seedlings were planted, lifted the plastic covers of the greenhouses to a height of approximately 25 meters from the ground. Workers who noticed the tornado quickly ran out of the greenhouses. Although the tornado eventually dissipated, the seedlings in the damaged greenhouses suffered significant losses.
Süleyman Metli, whose greenhouse was damaged, said, “Out of the 8 greenhouses, 5 were damaged. I lost around 450,000 lira. There were tomatoes planted in our greenhouse. When the tornado hit, it lifted our greenhouse 20-25 meters in the air. As a result, all the plants entered a drying phase. I don’t know if we can salvage any of them. Our seedlings have already started to dry up, so they have suffered serious damage. It will take about 20 days for the greenhouse to be operational again. We have never experienced such an incident before.” Metli also mentioned that there were workers inside the greenhouse when the tornado hit and they had a difficult time getting out, with four employees present that day.
Mustafa Altınok, another worker who was inside the greenhouse when the tornado struck, described the situation, saying, “A large tornado appeared and destroyed the other greenhouses before reaching ours. It lifted the first and second tunnels and started to lift the third one, so I started running towards the exit. I managed to get out, but unfortunately, 5 tunnels were damaged.” The intense winds and debris caused extensive damage to the structures, leaving the workers to deal with the aftermath of the destruction caused by the tornado.
The local authorities have been informed about the incident and are assessing the extent of the damage caused by the tornado. Efforts are being made to provide support and assistance to the affected greenhouse owners and workers. The community is coming together to help clean up the debris and start the process of rebuilding the damaged greenhouses. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and destructive power of natural disasters, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and response measures in the face of such emergencies.
As the village of Deregümü begins the recovery process, discussions are underway regarding potential measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and enhance the resilience of the agricultural infrastructure in the region. The affected greenhouse owners are calling for improved early warning systems and disaster preparedness measures to minimize the impact of such extreme weather events. The resilience of the community is being tested, but the spirit of solidarity and collaboration among the villagers is evident as they work together to overcome the challenges posed by the tornado and rebuild their livelihoods. The damage caused by the tornado serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of agricultural activities to natural disasters and the need for proactive measures to mitigate risks and protect the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
