AFAD releases disaster toll: "We have received 1,336 reports"

The Ministry of Interior's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) stated that 1,336 reports have been received so far across Turkey due to extreme rainfall and storms. AFAD also announced that efforts are continuing uninterrupted regarding a cargo ship with 12 crew members on board that lost contact.

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In a written statement made by AFAD, it was stated, “According to the latest assessments by the General Directorate of Meteorology, an orange alert has been issued for 17 of our provinces and a yellow alert for 16 of our provinces for November 20, 2023.

A total of 1,336 reports have been received so far across Turkey as a result of extreme rainfall and storms. It has been reported that citizens should be careful and take precautions against negative conditions such as flash floods, inundation, lightning, and hail that may be caused by heavy rainfall in the provinces under alert.

The governorates and provincial AFAD directorates of the provinces under alert have been informed via message forms and SMS. Information is being received at regular intervals from the provinces for which orange and yellow alerts have been issued,” the statement said.

AFAD also made a statement regarding the floods and inundations occurring in the provinces. The statement is as follows:

ZONGULDAK

"Due to the adverse weather and sea conditions, extreme rainfall and storms have occurred in the region. Three ships were affected by the negative meteorological situation. Upon reports that two ships had run aground in Ereğli, AFAD, the Coast Guard Command, and fire department teams were dispatched to the region; search and rescue operations were launched immediately. As a result of the intensive search and rescue efforts carried out by the teams, a total of 25 crew members were rescued, 12 from the first ship and 13 from the second.

Efforts are continuing uninterrupted regarding a cargo ship with 12 crew members on board that lost contact. Our AFAD President, Governor Okay Memiş, has arrived in the region to coordinate the efforts on-site. Across our province, 110 calls (roof blow-offs, being stranded, landslides, floods/inundations, and power outages) have reached the 112 Emergency Call Center. A total of 74 people affected by floods and overflows across Zonguldak province have been rescued by AFAD, the fire department, and the gendarmerie.

Due to the flood in the Karadeniz Ereğli district prison, 39 inmates were transferred to the Düzce L-Type Prison as a precaution. The road in the direction of Zonguldak at the Terzi village location on the Zonguldak-Ereğli route, the road at the Highways Maintenance House location in both directions, and the road at the Martyrdom location in the direction of Zonguldak were closed to traffic due to landslides, and information has been received that road clearing efforts are ongoing. The Zonguldak-Ankara road at the Dorukhan Tunnel Mengen location was closed to traffic for 2 hours due to a truck accident and trees falling on the road; as of now, the Zonguldak-Ankara road has been reopened."

ISTANBUL

"As a result of the extreme rainfall that occurred across Istanbul province on 18.11.2023, numerous reports (inundation, ponding, manhole overflows, road collapses, tree falls, pole and sign collapses, dangerous debris, etc.) have reached the 112 Emergency Call Center and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality command center. Intervention efforts by teams regarding the received reports are ongoing. Due to extreme rainfall and storms, sea bus services for Bursa and Bandırma, as well as Eminönü-Mudanya, Eminönü-Armutlu, and Mudanya-Sirkeci services, have been mutually canceled. İDO sea bus services and BUDO sea bus services have been canceled."

İZMİR

"It has been learned that floods occurred across İzmir province as a result of extreme rainfall on 18.11.2023. According to information received from the İzmir Provincial AFAD, 274 reports have been received, including 265 cases of inundation, 5 tree falls, 3 roof blow-offs, and 1 retaining wall collapse. The floods that occurred are being addressed by the İzmir Provincial AFAD and fire department teams. Disruptions in transportation during the day due to rainfall and storms have been resolved, and it has been reported that ferry and ship services have resumed."

MANİSA

"As a result of the extreme rainfall that occurred across Manisa province on 18.11.2023, flooding occurred, and according to information received from the Manisa Provincial AFAD, a total of 20 reports have been received. The floods that occurred are being addressed by the Manisa Provincial AFAD and fire department teams."

AYDIN

"It has been reported that flooding, landslides, tree falls, and roof blow-offs occurred across Aydın province as a result of extreme rainfall and storms on 18.11.2023. According to information received from the Aydın Provincial AFAD, a total of 10 reports have been received. The floods that occurred are being addressed by the Aydın Provincial AFAD, fire department, gendarmerie, Highways, and municipal teams."

BALIKESİR

"It has been learned that flooding, roof blow-offs, and people being stranded occurred across Balıkesir province as a result of extreme rainfall and storms on 18.11.2023. According to information received from the Balıkesir Provincial AFAD, a total of 191 reports have been received, including 176 cases of inundation, 13 instances of vehicle damage, and 2 roof blow-offs.

The aforementioned incidents are being addressed by the Balıkesir Provincial AFAD, fire department, BASKİ, gendarmerie, and police teams. Three of our citizens were stranded after the ground floor of a house in the Bahçelievler neighborhood was flooded, and it has been reported that they were rescued alive by the Balıkesir Provincial AFAD and fire department teams."

MERSİN

"Floods occurred across Mersin province as a result of extreme rainfall on 18.11.2023. According to information received from the Mersin Provincial AFAD, a total of 312 reports have been received, including 292 cases of inundation, 2 lightning strikes, 1 roof blow-off, 7 tree falls, 1 traffic accident, and 9 landslides.

The floods that occurred are being addressed by the Mersin Provincial AFAD, fire department, MESKİ, Highways, and municipal teams. It has been reported that roads where landslides occurred due to rainfall have been reopened to traffic by Highways teams."

KOCAELİ

"A total of 343 reports were received due to floods that occurred across Kocaeli province as a result of extreme rainfall on 18.11.2023. The floods that occurred are being addressed by the Kocaeli Provincial AFAD, fire department, and municipal teams.

It has been learned that on 19.11.2023, incidents of flooding/overflow, manhole overflows, and clogged grates occurred in Kocaeli province due to localized, occasionally heavy downpours. Six citizens who were stranded due to the overflowing of the Kandıra Kurtyeri Creek were evacuated."

HATAY

"On 19.11.2023, 30 reports were received across Hatay province due to extreme rainfall. It has been reported that Hatay Provincial AFAD and fire department teams have been dispatched to container cities where flooding occurred."

ADIYAMAN

"It has been reported that there was flooding in 2 container cities as a result of extreme rainfall and storms on 18.11.2023, and intervention efforts are continuing. On 19.11.2023, information was received that a citizen's tent in Taşkuyu village of Adıyaman's Samsat district had collapsed and that they had been evacuated."

MALATYA

"On 19.11.2023, reports were received of 4 containers being flooded and 3 roof blow-offs in container cities across Malatya province."

GAZİANTEP

"On 19.11.2023, reports were received of 5 containers being flooded in container cities across Gaziantep province."

BURSA

"According to information received from the Bursa Provincial AFAD on 18.11.2023, a total of 12 reports have been received, including 7 cases of inundation, 3 landslides, 1 retaining wall collapse, and 1 abandoned building sliding onto an adjacent detached house.

The floods that occurred are being addressed by the Bursa Provincial AFAD, fire department, Highways, municipal, and police teams. Information has been received that a retaining wall partially collapsed due to a road collapse in the Velinimet neighborhood of the Kestel district as a result of the rainfall, causing damage to surrounding vehicles. Security measures have been taken in the incident area, and it has been reported that the damaged vehicles have been recovered."

TEKİRDAĞ

"It has been learned that on 19.11.2023, 1 roof blow-off occurred in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ province as a result of extreme rainfall and storms, and tree falls occurred mainly in the Süleymanpaşa and Çorlu districts. It has been reported that the aforementioned incident is being addressed by the Tekirdağ Provincial AFAD and fire department teams."

KIRKLARELİ

"On 19.11.2023, information was received that people stranded in their vehicles due to snowfall across Kırklareli province were rescued."

ANTALYA

"On 19.11.2023, a report was received that 1 boat sank in Side Harbor as a result of rainfall during the night in Antalya province."

YALOVA

"On 19.11.2023, a ship undergoing maintenance in the Yalova Altınova Shipyards region ran aground due to a snapped rope. According to the latest information, there are 11 personnel on the ship. It has been reported that rescue efforts will be carried out with a fire truck following a decrease in wind speed."

BOLU

"On 19.11.2023, reports were received that 9 vehicles were stranded and a road was closed due to tree falls as a result of extreme rainfall in Bolu province, and snowfall is continuing. Intervention is being carried out for vehicles stranded due to heavy snowfall. It has been reported that the right lane along the tunnel up to the landslide area has been closed as a precaution in the landslide area that occurred 150 meters past the Bolu Tunnel in the direction of Istanbul."

GÜMÜŞHANE

"On 18.11.2023, 3 reports were received as a result of snowfall across Gümüşhane province. Information has been received that people stranded in a vehicle were rescued by Gümüşhane Provincial AFAD and gendarmerie teams."

BİNGÖL

"On 19.11.2023, information was received that 2 citizens were stranded due to a flood disaster in Bağlıisa village as a result of heavy rainfall in Bingöl province, and that stream rehabilitation efforts are continuing following the rescue operations."

DİYARBAKIR

"On 19.11.2023, information was received that 1 person went missing due to a flood disaster as a result of heavy rainfall in the Hani district of Diyarbakır province and that search and rescue operations have been initiated. AFAD and Dicle University Search and Rescue (DÜAK) teams were dispatched to the region. Information has been received that as a result of the efforts, the citizen was handed over to 112 units with serious injuries.”

News Source: İHA