Two dead in flash floods in Turkey

Heavy rainfall hit Mersin, the southern city of Turkey on Thursday (December 29), triggering flash floods that killed two people, private Dogan Haber Agency reported.

Persistent rain started in the early hours of the morning and caused rivers to burst their banks.

Floodwaters gushed through inner city roads, submerging cars and inundating apartment buildings.

A 30-year-old man and a young woman were killed in the floods and police are working to identify the victims, DHA reported.

Turkey’s Meteorology Department, quoted by DHA, said rain is set to continue until 1200 local time (0930GMT) on Friday. It also issued a thunderstorm alert for Istanbul and other provinces of the north-western Marmara region for Dec. 31.