Death toll rises to 10 in Giresun flood

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu attended the ceremony held in the Governor's Office of Giresun on the occasion of August 30 Victory Day.

Addressing the audience there, Soylu shared the latest information as to the flood that hit Turkey's Black Sea province of Giresun. "Our number of fatalities has become 10. May they rest in peace," he said, adding that search and rescue efforts were still ongoing for five missing persons. He added that these efforts would continue until those people were found.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the person found on a stream bed in Doğankent district could not yet be identified.

Some 988 personnel and 288 vehicles were involved in rescue efforts, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said in a statement earlier. According to the reports, 157 people have been rescued so far, with at least 12 of them found in injured condition.

At least 17 buildings have been destroyed and 361 more structures slightly damaged in the flood, Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum told reporters earlier. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli also previously said that damage assessments were ongoing, adding that farmlands seemed to have suffered less damage than initially estimated.

What happened?

Heavy rainfall that hit Turkey's Black Sea province of Giresun on August 23 led to flooding and landslides. While 10 people, including three soldiers, lost their lives in the city, five people got missing.

With 17 buildings collapsed and 361 structures damaged, the infrastructure and the upper structure of the city as well as electricity, water and telephone lines were damaged in the flood and landslides. (TP/SD)