38 killed in floods in Turkey: “cars dragged and houses destroyed in three cities” | abroad

More than 1,700 people were evacuated in Bartend, Kastamonu and Sinop, as towns were inundated after days of rain, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. With the support of NGOs and the military, more than 5,000 soldiers, 19 helicopters and more than 500 vehicles have been deployed to the rescue operations.

“This is the worst flood I’ve ever seen,” Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters in Bozkurt on Thursday evening. In some places the water level rose to 5 metres.

Fox TV reported that water dragged cars and destroyed homes and bridges in the three cities. The channel said that at least four people, including two children, were missing after the destruction of an eight-storey building in Bozkurt.

Thousands of residents are provided temporary shelter in student rooms due to the destruction of their homes. The authorities spoke of a catastrophe unparalleled in fifty years or even a century. According to Turkish President Erdogan, who visited the region on Friday, “intensive” cooperation is underway with all institutions and organizations in the affected regions.

The floods, caused by torrential rains from Tuesday to Wednesday, came at a time when Turkey was just recovering Big wildfires in the south. It’s dry and hot there. The fire killed at least eight people and devastated tourist areas along the coast.

Heavy rainfall in the north also led to landslides. According to the authorities, at least two hundred villages remained without electricity as of Friday. Many roads and bridges have been destroyed or damaged so badly that they are no longer usable. Rain is expected to continue for the rest of the week in the affected areas.

The area is often affected by floods in the summer after heavy rains. Last year, five people were killed in a storm.

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