Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

The construction of a dam in Turkey will mean the relocation of thousands of families who have already been moved six times in the mountainous district’s 152-year history.

Yusufeli Dam, located on the Coruh River near Yusufeli in the Turkish province of Artvin in the north-eastern Black Sea region, is currently under construction and will be the country’s tallest dam and the fifth tallest in the world when opened.

However, the dam will result in the flooding of the district of Yusufeli, which includes the town of the same name and the surrounding villages of Yenikoy, Tekkale, Irmakyani, Celtikduzu, Cevreli, Ishan and Mesecik.

According to local reports, it will be the seventh time the district has been relocated in its 152-year history and will involve 2,654 families and around 9,000 people.

Around 5,000 homes and workplaces and 9,430 decares of agricultural land will be underwater.

New settlements will be built at the foot of the mountains to replace the town and villages about to be flooded and the relocation process is expected to take around five months.

The authorities have acquired land in the locality of Yansiticilar to start work on the new settlements, which will be carried out in 10 stages.

Work is already close to completion for public buildings such as the town hall, police station, courthouse, and schools.

According to local media, even the rich soil used in agricultural plots in the existing settlements has been transported and poured into the new area along with fruit trees and other necessities.