Three dead, six missing after torrential rains in Türkiye
More than 3,000 people rescued in Istanbul, with over 58,000 personnel deployed nationwide.
Three people have died and six others are missing following torrential rains and flooding in Türkiye’s Istanbul and Kocaeli provinces, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said on Friday.
One person died from electrocution and two others drowned in Istanbul, Çiftçi said during a press briefing at the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) headquarters.
Search and rescue teams are continuing operations to locate six people reported missing, including five in Istanbul and one in Kocaeli.
Rainfall in parts of Istanbul reached 272 kilograms per square metre, equivalent to 272 millimetres, the minister said, adding that conditions across the city were being monitored through more than 12,000 cameras.
Thousands rescued as emergency response intensifies
Authorities have received 12,372 emergency reports across provinces under weather warnings, including 9,755 from Istanbul, according to Çiftçi.
Emergency teams responded to 7,456 verified incidents reported to Istanbul’s 112 emergency call centre, he said.
A total of 3,055 people stranded by the flooding in Istanbul have been rescued through joint operations involving AFAD, the coast guard, gendarmerie and municipal teams. Residents requiring accommodation have been placed in public guesthouses.
Evacuations in Istanbul’s Ayazağa district have also been completed, the minister added.
In the northwestern province of Sakarya, a building in the Sapanca district that had been evacuated as a precaution because of its proximity to a stream collapsed. No casualties were reported.
More than 58,000 personnel deployed
Türkiye has deployed 58,085 personnel nationwide to respond to the severe weather, including 46,597 in Istanbul, Çiftçi said.
Of those assigned to Istanbul, 8,597 are involved in search and rescue and initial response operations, while approximately 38,000 provide support.
AFAD has also mobilised 1,000 volunteers to assist field operations. Meanwhile, 22 personnel working under the disaster nutrition group distributed 9,185 food items to affected residents throughout the day.
The response is being coordinated around the clock under Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan, with provincial governors overseeing operations through emergency management centres.
The Turkish Meteorological Service continues to maintain orange weather alerts for four provinces and yellow alerts for 31 provinces, the minister said.
Authorities warn of further flood risks
Çiftçi urged residents to follow official instructions and take precautions against further flooding as heavy rainfall continues to threaten affected areas.
He advised people to leave riverbanks, low-lying areas and flood-prone locations immediately when danger arises, and warned against walking or driving through floodwater.
Residents were also told to stay away from electrical sources and fallen power lines that may have come into contact with water. Battery-powered flashlights should be used during power outages, he said.
The minister further advised people to use bottled drinking water when the safety of local supplies could not be guaranteed and to pay particular attention to older people, children, people with disabilities and neighbours requiring assistance.
Authorities remain on alert around the clock, with emergency teams continuing rescue and response operations as officials monitor developments across the affected provinces.
Source:AA
