The torrential rain that fell late yesterday in the district of Havza, in the south of the province of Samsun (on the northern coast of Turkey), caused severe flooding that left 12 people hospitalised with injuries, whilst Turkish authorities have ordered the closure of several schools for at least one day due to the severity of the damage caused in the region.
As day broke, the extent of the damage caused by the storm that battered the Turkish coast of the Black Sea yesterday afternoon became clear. Aerial images showed vehicles swept away by the current and reduced to scrap scattered across the streets, shops covered in mud and extensive material damage, whilst daily life in the district of Havza was virtually brought to a standstill.
Although the storm left 12 people injured, none of them are in a life-threatening condition, according to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet. Some in fact made their own way to the public hospital in Havza, whilst others were taken there by medical teams. Eleven of those affected received outpatient treatment; only an 83-year-old man remains under observation due to his advanced age, having been rescued after becoming trapped in the water and holding on to metal structures to prevent the water from sweeping him away.
Heavy rainfall yesterday afternoon caused the Hacı Osman and Tersakan streams to rise, causing the water to burst its banks and flood basements and ground floors of numerous homes and businesses in the district, as well as sweeping away several vehicles.
Weather alert remains in place as more rain is forecast
The governor of Samsun, Orhan Tavlı, visited the affected area following the disaster and explained that the rain began around 6 pm: “Flooding occurred in the streams running through the district of Havza. In just 10 minutes, this heavy rain affected four neighbourhoods in the centre of the district. Teams from the Havza Governor’s Office, Havza Town Council, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, the Highways Department and AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Agency) responded swiftly. The rain has eased, but we are continuing to monitor weather conditions closely,” he stated.
Tavlı emphasised that no fatalities have been reported, although he confirmed significant damage to shops and vehicles. Furthermore, at least three schools in the district have suspended classes for the day due to the floods. The weather forecast for the region is for rain and storms to continue throughout the week.
Among the images that have made the front pages of numerous media outlets following the floods in Samsun, one that stands out is that of a young man who was trapped on the roof of a car during the flood and who, despite the tension of the moment, remained calm; he was eventually evacuated safe and sound thanks to the intervention of rescue teams. Also noteworthy are the images recorded in the areas around Cumhuriyet Square and in the districts of Çay and Bahçelievler, which reflect the effects of the disaster, showing cars covered in mud, overturned vehicles and others reduced to a heap of scrap metal by the force of the water.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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