Heavy rainfall in İzmir: Sea overflows its banks

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Following a heavy rainfall in Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir over the past four days, the sea overflowed its banks in the Mavişehir Neighborhood in Karşıyaka district at night (December 14).

As reported by Anadolu Agency (AA), the gardens of the housing estates on the coast were flooded with sea water and the vehicles parked in the car parks and on the roadside were submerged by the rising water.

Later in the day today, the AA has reported that two people went missing after a light commercial vehicle was swept away by flood in İzmir.

Due to heavy rainfall, a stream in the Menderes district of İzmir province overflowed and the vehicle carrying five people started drifting away as it attempted to cross the stream, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

While three of these persons were able to save themselves, two went missing in flood waters. Search and rescue teams found the vehicle nearly 800 meters (2,624 feet) away from the scene.

On the other side, the fire brigade teams of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality sounded sirens during the night to warn the citizens to rescue their vehicles that had been submerged by the rising water.

Upon hearing the sirens, several citizens rushed outside to prevent any possible damage to their vehicles.

As several people could not start their vehicles, they called for a tow truck to tow away their vehicles. According to the weather forecast of the Directorate General of Meteorology, sporadic rainfall is expected in the city today. (TP/SD)