In a grim turn of events, the body of the last missing individual in the floods that wreaked havoc on Istanbul and northwestern Turkey this week has been recovered, pushing the death toll to eight, according to official reports.
The disaster unfolded as torrential rains lashed the northern regions of Istanbul and portions of Kirklareli province, unleashing their destructive force by sweeping away shops and tourist bungalows in their path.
Within Istanbul, two lives were tragically claimed by the deluge. In Kirklareli, a further six lives were lost in the disaster, with the recovery of the final missing person, identified as Ahmet Baki Simsek.
Among the hardest-hit areas was the coastal town of Igneada in Kirklareli, situated along the Black Sea, which had accommodated tourists in 18 bungalows. The extent of the devastation prompted Deputy Interior Minister Munir Karaloglu to launch an investigation into the safety conditions at this tourist site.
Additionally, Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for the owner of the facility, citing illegal construction of the bungalows, as reported by the private NTV broadcaster.
Across the border in Greece, rescue operations were in full swing as the death toll from the relentless Storm Daniel climbed to six. Greek rescue teams, employing divers, lifeboats, and helicopters, raced against time to reach dozens of villagers affected by the catastrophic flooding.
The fire service announced the discovery of the bodies of two elderly women, along with that of a shepherd who had been swept away by the floodwaters.
In a coordinated effort, emergency services worked in tandem with the army to reach stranded residents. Moreover, additional villages had to be evacuated due to flood-related damage to a dam.
These severe storms have battered Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, following a period of extreme heat and devastating wildfires. Climate experts point to these extreme weather events as increasingly common manifestations of human-induced climate change.
The torrential downpour, commencing on Monday evening and persisting into Tuesday, pounded the central region of Thessaly, located 300 kilometers north of Athens. The port city of Volos, as well as the towns of Karditsa and Tikala further inland, were significantly impacted, in addition to several villages. Astonishingly, more than a year’s worth of rain inundated the area in just 24 hours.
In light of these circumstances, Civil Protection and Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias conveyed that approximately 67 individuals had been rescued from the villages near Karditsa. A dedicated effort to conduct house-to-house rescues in the stranded villages was underway, aided by rescue boats and teams equipped with artificial lighting. However, the presence of a breached dam between Trikala and Karditsa posed a significant challenge to these operations. Despite the deployment of ten helicopters, including three from the army, nighttime operations would have to be temporarily halted.
AFP
