Ali Yerlikaya announced: 9 of our citizens lost their lives due to floods and adverse weather conditions

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that a total of 9 citizens have lost their lives due to floods and adverse weather conditions.

Yerlikaya noted that 1 person from the 12-member crew of the ship that sank off the coast of Zonguldak has lost their life, and that search efforts for the 11 personnel are ongoing.

Yerlikaya made the following statements:

"We are at the Zonguldak Ereğli port. Yesterday, wind speeds occasionally exceeded 70 knots. The ship, which departed from the port due to adverse weather conditions, drifted and struck the breakwater, causing it to sink. The lifeless body of 1 person from the 12-member crew has been recovered.

We had stated that 1 lifeless body from the Kafkametler crew had been recovered. Our teams began search efforts for the 11 missing crew members early this morning as weather conditions improved. However, land-based scanning and surveillance began immediately from the moment the ship sank yesterday. We have 797 personnel involved in search and rescue operations.

Our hope is to reach the missing crew as soon as possible. While coming here, we were at our military breakwater. Currently, wave heights are over 3-4 meters. Despite this, our friends are continuing search and rescue efforts.

I regret to state that 9 of our citizens have passed away so far in the floods, storms, and heavy rainfall.

There were 2,009 reports made in provinces where orange alerts were issued. Unfortunately, the roofs of 57 of our schools in Zonguldak were blown off. In the first stage, we sent 50 million liras in funding to AFAD. Our governor is working with his colleagues regarding the roofs of our schools. There is information that the roofs of 43 houses and workplaces were also blown off. Additionally, damage assessments are being conducted for flooded houses and cultivated lands."

News Source: 12punto