Black Sea region: dead after floods in Turkey

While the south-west of Turkey has been hit by forest fires, heavy rains in the north are causing floods and landslides. At least four people were killed, according to the authorities.

Floods and landslides after heavy rains have so far killed at least four people in northern Turkey. One person is still missing, said the civil protection authority.

Houses and bridges destroyed

The masses of water destroyed houses and bridges in the Black Sea provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday and tore cars with them. Helicopters rescued people who had gone to safety on the roofs of houses. The flood has now receded, as the Turkish civil protection authority announced.

The worst hit was apparently Kastamonu, where large parts of the city of Bozkurt were flooded. At least 13 people were injured when part of a bridge collapsed in Bartin Province. Armed forces helicopters brought 80 people to safety in the region. Many of the areas were without electricity and the village streets were blocked.

Hospital evacuated

A hospital in Sinop had to be evacuated. The authorities said 45 patients, including four intensive care patients, were brought to safety during the operation. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the operation was necessary because of a severe water ingress. Images from the DHA news agency showed that the floor of the hospital was under water. The Turkish Black Sea region is frequently hit by heavy rains and flash floods.

Meanwhile, firefighters in southwest Turkey are trying to put out a forest fire in Mugla Province, an area on the Aegean Sea popular with tourists.