Flood claims 5 lives in Bursa province, 1 person still missing

* Photo and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Receiving an intense rainfall, the district of Kestel in Turkey northwestern province of Bursa was hit by a flood last evening (June 21). While five people have lost their lives, one person is still missing.

The flood was especially effective in the villages of Dudaklı and Kayacık, causing several vehicles and tractors to be dragged by water and engulfing thousands of decares of cultivated area. The flood brought along rocks from a mountainous region known as Çınarcık.

Kader Akbaba, a 24-year-old person with disabilities living in the upper side of Dudaklı village, could not leave his house and lost his life in the flood.

Four people from a family of five coming from Turkey's eastern Bingöl province also got missing in the flood.

The deceased bodies of a five-year-old girl and one more person have also been found. As of 10 a.m. today (June 22), five people have lost their lives in the flood and one person is still missing. The search and rescue operations still continue for the missing person.

Minister Soylu in the region

The Interior Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) teams, gendarmerie officers, fire brigade teams affiliated with the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) teams were referred to the area following the incident.

Both Bursa Governor Yakup Canbolat and Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş made examinations in both villages mostly affected by the flood.

While search and rescue operations have been started in the area, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also reportedly set off for Bursa province upon the instruction of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"Search operations still continue. The flow rate of the brook is still too high due to the flood," Minister Soylu said. According to his initial assessment, the Minister said that the incident was far above the seasonal norms.

Statement by the Governor's Office

The Governor's Office of Bursa has also released a written statement about the incident, announcing that "seven people from the Kayacık Neighborhood were caught up in the flood."

While two people could survive by their own means, the dead bodies of five people, including one girl child, have been reached. The works to identify the deceased still continue, according to the statement of the Office.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), intensive search and rescue operations are being carried out in flood-hit areas by 257 personnel, including 134 gendarmeries. (TP/SD)