Confronting a robust snowfall blanketing Istanbul, our crews teamed up with those from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) to orchestrate a ceaseless, round-the-clock operation. Our iSFALT teams, comprising 898 committed individuals and a fleet of 462 vehicles, dedicated their efforts to neutralize the unfavorable weather impacts on our citizens. Through these rigorous efforts, from January 21st onward, we utilized an impressive 83,160 tons of salt and 44 tons of deicing solution across Istanbul.
Istanbul bore witness to the most intense snowfall in its recent history, with snow depths reaching a staggering 80 cm in certain regions. Joining hands with iSFALT, the IMM relentlessly tackled the formidable winter weather, deploying a substantial battalion of 7,421 personnel and 1,582 vehicles and pieces of heavy machinery. Despite the heavy snowfall causing some vehicles to be immobilized, particularly on the city's primary thoroughfares, IMM's rapid-response teams swiftly intervened to clear the roadways.
A Brigade of Over 7,000 Personnel at the Frontline
Amidst the extreme snowfall and frosty conditions wreaking havoc in Istanbul, a coordinated rescue operation was staged by AKOM, IMM, and twenty-six other collaborating units, which saw the intense deployment of 1,582 vehicles/machinery and 7,421 personnel. Relying on information from the 60-station Ice Early Warning System (BEUS), traffic camera footage, and citizen reports, IMM was quick to respond and take appropriate actions.
IMM's Massive Salt Usage: 83,000 Tons
IMM road maintenance teams spearheaded the snow-clearing and salting operations on roads, plazas, metro entrances and exits, bus stations, and both under and overpasses. Vehicles stranded due to the weather were towed away, while extensive road-widening and ice-removal operations were conducted. A hefty 1,551 tons of salt was utilized in the past 24 hours, and since the onset of the impactful snowfall on Friday, the usage soared to an impressive 83,160 tons of salt and 44 tons of deicing solution. As of today, IMM's salt reserve is a robust 114,938 tons.
Clearing the Roads of Stranded Vehicles
In response to weather-induced roadside abandonments, 1,985 vehicles were efficiently towed and removed. A swift response was facilitated for thirty-one roof collapses and 486 toppling trees. Traffic-impeding and risk-inducing obstacles were swiftly removed, with seventy-two dangerous objects being disposed of.
Our Vigilant Teams at The Helm
In the IMM-led and AKOM-coordinated Winter Crisis Response Operations, our company proactively participated with 898 personnel and 462 vehicles. ISFALT, taking all necessary strides for successful Winter Crisis Response Operations, consistently maintained its dedicated service in all assigned sectors. Spanning a sizable operation route of nearly 2,000 km, our company also engaged in joint efforts on routes and grounds managed by the IMM Road Maintenance units.
The operations overseen by AKOM also saw active participation from our company's leaders. Our hands-on managers, constantly tracking the field operations, ensured the uninterrupted functioning of our vehicles along their designated routes.
24/7 Attention to Vehicle Malfunctions
During the Winter Crisis Response Operations, our company's roving maintenance teams were on-call for any sporadic vehicle breakdowns. These teams maintained a continuous rotational service, 24/7, to address any vehicle malfunctions promptly.
A Round-the-Clock Action Plan
In the face of relentless snowfall, our company developed diverse solutions to sustain uninterrupted operations. Consequently, our snow-clearing vehicles were provisioned to refuel without deviating from their operational paths. Additionally, our drivers and operators were enlisted under a 24-hour ceaseless work plan to ensure the continuity of our Winter Crisis Response Operations.
January 31, 2022.
