Floods in Turkey's Black Sea region claim three lives, minister confirms

Giresun (Photos: AA)

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Three individuals have lost their lives in the aftermath of heavy rainfall and subsequent floods in Turkey's northern Black Sea region, as announced by the interior minister.

During his visit to Zonguldak, Ali Yerlikaya personally inspected the areas affected by the floods. The fatalities occurred in Samsun, Zonguldak, and Giresun, highlighting the widespread impact of the natural disaster.

The torrential downpour resulted in severe consequences such as waterlogging, landslides, and rockfalls in Bartın, Ordu, and Zonguldak, affecting both urban centers and numerous rural communities. Yerlikaya also noted that residential areas in Bolu, Düzce, Giresun, Kastamonu, Kocaeli, Karabük, and Samsun experienced the destructive force of the floods.

Providing an update on the situation, Yerlikaya stated, "A total of 210 roads were initially closed due to the floods, but thanks to the tireless efforts of our teams, all roads have now been reopened for traffic.

"Electricity supply was disrupted in 625 settlements, comprising cities, towns, and villages. However, after the completion of restoration work, power has been fully restored to all affected areas."

Additionally, Yerlikaya mentioned that drinking water supply was interrupted in 165 settlements, but immediate measures were taken to restore water services to 60 of them.

Surge in floods in Black Sea region

The surge in flood incidents in the Black Sea region over the past few years has raised concerns among environmental organizations.

They attribute the worsening situation to the concrete lining of riverbeds as part of flood prevention efforts and hold hydroelectric power plants accountable for exacerbating the impact of heavy rainfall. A striking example was last year's flood in Kastamonu, which occurred due to a hydroelectrict power plant, claiming more than 70 lives.

The construction and operation of these hydroelectric power plants have disrupted the natural flow of rivers, leading to deforestation and the dumping of construction debris into waterways, environmentalists say. As a result, the excessive water accumulation during heavy rainfall events causes the opening of the power plants' gates, contributing to widespread flooding. (AÖ/VK)