Story By: Sibel Abdiu, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
This landmark 300-year-old bridge has collapsed after being restored with locals blaming the builders who carried out the restoration for the loss.
The traditionally built historic Kemer Bridge once joined both sides of the Ambarlik village in Turkey’s Rize province Turkey by spanning the river.
Worried about the state of repair of the 300-year-old structure, they had then called in restorers to make sure it lasted another 300 years. But a year after they packed up and left, the bridge collapsed.
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The bridge was officially registered by the Cultural Heritage and Museums General Directorate which is supposed to catalogue and preserve the country’s cultural heritage.
The local mayor Musa Sureyya Balci said the loss of the bridge was devastating for the community.
He said: “We just don’t understand it. A 300-year-old piece of local history has vanished forever. This was a symbol of our land, the most important historical monument in the area. We are also confused. After the investigation, the reason behind the collapse will be found.
“A restoration was made. We cannot say for sure, but it might be the case that the restoration was poorly carried out.”
His fears however were reinforced by a statement from villager Suleyman Turut who said there was nothing wrong with the bridge when the builders turned up to repair it, and added: “They started pulling out stones and putting in new ones and we told them to be careful but they were just saying it’s all okay, you don’t need to worry. They are the ones that damage the bridge, and then they left.”
Salarha Valley New City Development Association president Dursun Ali Toptan agreed, saying there had been no earthquakes or floods in the region and given that there was no natural cause, the collapse was obviously “caused by a mistake in the restoration.”
The bridge was built about 300 years ago from local stone and rubble stone and just over a year ago was restored.
Locals meanwhile say that they need to be the ones to also rebuild it, using the remains of the old bridge.
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