Floods in Turkey’s quake-hit provinces claim at least 15 lives

Duvar English

At least 15 people died after a flash flood covered the southeastern provinces of Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa as of March 16. Searches continue for missing people.

Torrential rainfall started late on March 14 in two earthquake-hit provinces, bringing chaos to the tent and container camps of the quake-victims. 

Many shops, apartment flats, hospitals were also flooded and dozens of vehicles were damaged.

One of the firefighters who had gone missing during the rescue efforts in the flood disaster in Şanlıurfa was rescued.

A container of Feb. 6 quake-victims was swept away, killing two people. Four people from the container went missing.

The intensive care unit of Eyyübiye Hospital was also flooded in Şanlıurfa province.

People living in a tent camp established next to the Dicle River after the Feb. 6 earthquakes despite warnings of flooding were evacuated as a precaution.

Şanlıurfa Governor’s Office announced that schools will be closed on March 16.

Authorities have warned that heavy rain will continue until March 16. 

On the other hand, main opposition Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu visited flood-hit Şanlıurfa province with Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener and Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoğlu.

“People lost their lives. If a country is well managed, it will have disaster-resilient cities. You have to create resilient cities. They waited for hours, for God's sake, to bring a pump (to drain water)? What kind of governance approach is this?” Kılıçdaroğlu said, blaming the government for fatalities.

“We have to say good-bye to whoever does not do their duty and prepares the environment for events that lead to deaths,” Kılıçdaroğlu added.