Flooding in Turkey kills at least eight in bitter reminder of climate chaos
The government has pledged to rebuild areas hard hit by a weekend flood, but activists warn the construction of roads, dams and buildings in flood zones means more disasters are likely to follow.
ISTANBUL — The death toll from flooding in northern Turkey climbed to eight while another eight people were missing on Monday, sounding an alarm over the rapid development and climate change that have transformed the Black Sea region and unleashed a series of deadly disasters in recent years.
Search and rescue efforts continued on Monday after torrential rains set off flash floods at the weekend in the province of Giresun. Among the dead and missing were five security officers after their vehicles were pitched into a ravine when a road collapsed. Emergency workers rescued 157 people.
Hardest hit was the town of Dereli, whose name means “with streams,” in Giresun province. Footage from the town of 2,000 people showed cars upended and streets blanketed in mud, rubble and large boulders.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised tax deferrals for those who suffered losses in the flood and to rebuild homes and businesses. The latest flooding requires natural disaster-prone Turkey to reassess how it builds its infrastructure, housing and businesses, he also said.
