Extreme rainfall in the Black Sea and Central Anatolia: 2 citizens swept away by floods lose their lives, AFAD issues SMS warnings to 9 provinces

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that response teams are continuing their efforts following floods and inundations caused by extreme rainfall in the Black Sea and Central Anatolia regions.

In a statement from AFAD, it was announced that, according to information received from the General Directorate of Meteorology, the yellow rainfall warning for Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, Sivas, Kayseri, Aksaray, Niğde, Adana, Osmaniye, and Mersin has been lifted.

WARNING FOR SAMSUN AND ORDU

It was stated that the orange rainfall warning for Samsun and Ordu is expected to remain in effect until 08:00 in the morning.

The statement included the following: "Floods and inundations have occurred as a result of extreme rainfall in our Black Sea and Central Anatolia regions, and our teams' response efforts are ongoing."

Providing information regarding the provinces affected by the rainfall, the statement noted that a landslide occurred in the Güllüce neighborhood of the Bünyan district in Kayseri due to the extreme precipitation.

1 DEAD, 1 MISSING

The statement noted that 32 citizens and 8 vehicles that were stranded were evacuated to safe areas, and that a 150-person search and rescue team is working non-stop to locate 1 person believed to have been in a vehicle that was swept into a creek bed due to the landslide.

The statement recorded the following:

"A citizen of ours who was swept away by floods in our Kırşehir province was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital, but lost their life despite all interventions. We wish God's mercy upon the citizen who lost their life, and extend our condolences to their family and loved ones. 150 agricultural workers affected by the extreme rainfall have been moved to safe areas as a precaution. 15 of our citizens affected by floods and inundations in our Nevşehir province have been evacuated to safe areas. We strongly remind our citizens to heed the warnings of the authorized authorities."

SAD NEWS FROM KAYSERI

The lifeless body of the person swept away by floods in the Bünyan district of Kayseri has been found.

The heavy rainfall that was effective in the district caused flooding. Due to the flood, one of the vehicles stranded as a result of a landslide in the Güllüce neighborhood was swept away and overturned into a creek bed.

Upon notification, gendarmerie, medical, and search and rescue teams were dispatched to the region.

While the vehicle was removed from its location with construction equipment, the lifeless body of Muhittin Saraç, who was believed to have been swept away by floodwaters, was found in the garden of a house approximately 10 kilometers away from his vehicle.

As part of the search efforts involving a team of approximately 150 people, 8 vehicles that were stranded during the downpour and many citizens were evacuated to safe areas.

On the other hand, Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek, AK Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş, AK Party Kayseri Deputy Hulusi Akar, and Metropolitan Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç also went to the region and received information from the authorities.

Governor Çiçek stated in a post on his social media account: "Upon receiving information that some of our citizens were stranded due to the flood disaster in our Bünyan district, our teams immediately began work and reached our stranded citizens. Search efforts for one missing citizen are still ongoing."

SMS WARNING FROM AFAD

The General Directorate of Meteorology issued a warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms for Sunday, August 25, for the provinces of Sivas, Yozgat, Kayseri, Malatya, Tokat, Amasya, Sinop, Ordu, and Samsun.

Regarding the matter, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) sent a "Meteorological Warning" to the governorships of 9 provinces. It was reported that precautions should be taken against flash floods, inundations, lightning, local hail, sudden strong winds, short-term storms, and potential disruptions in transportation.

While AFAD provided information to citizens living in the 9 provinces via SMS, it was stated that necessary warnings were also made through mosque and municipal announcement systems, as well as from police and gendarmerie vehicles.

In the statement made by AFAD, it was noted: “According to the latest evaluations made by the General Directorate of Meteorology; local strong thunderstorms are expected in the surroundings of Sivas, Yozgat, Kayseri, Malatya, and Tokat, as well as the east of Amasya, starting from noon today. It has been reported that one should be careful and cautious against negative conditions such as flash floods, inundations, lightning, local hail, sudden strong winds, short-term storms, and disruptions in transportation. In this context; it is necessary to warn the relevant units against the mentioned negative conditions, keep communication channels open, have the necessary vehicles, construction equipment, and personnel planning ready, be on alert and take necessary measures, make response planning, keep response units on standby, and provide information to our Presidency about the activities carried out.”