Connect with us

Europe

Heavy rain batters Western Turkey; flash floods in Istanbul

Published

on

Heavy rain batters Western Turkey; flash floods in Istanbul

Thunderstorms and floods in Western Turkey caused traffic chaos on Tuesday bringing major cities like Istanbul to a standstill.

“This is a disaster’’, transport minister Ahmet Arslan was quoted as saying by private broadcaster CNNTurk.

Heavy rainfall across the city of Istanbul flooded metro stations and main roads with some cars being carried away by the current leaving many people stranded.

Several buildings, including offices and shops were flooded, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, giving no immediate details on the financial damage.

The flash floods also hit the western province of Canakkale and other neighbouring provinces.

People have taken to social media to criticise the local authorities for failing to take measures on time and to complain about poor infrastructure.

The Istanbul governor’s office asked citizens to avoid travelling in private cars.

The Istanbul municipality separately warned of storms and the risk of flooding with heavy rain expected to continue throughout the day.

Videos on social media showed people trying to make their way through flooded roads.

CNN Turk shared footage showing a person trying to swim across a street in Uskudar on the Anatolian side of Istanbul.

Nan

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel