Black Sea region embattled with floods, landslides

Floods and landslides triggered by the heavy rain in the Black Sea region has killed four people since Monday. Meteorologists warn of more rainfall over the weekend.

Ordu, which is accustomed to year-round rainfall, is the province worst-hit. Three people were killed and two remain missing after they were caught in floodwaters and buried under tons of soil during landslides due to heavy rain. On Thursday evening, a 76-year-old woman died in the province of Trabzon when she fell and injured herself while attempting to clear mud blocking the entrance to her house.

Authorities said the heavy rainfall amounted to a natural disaster, one of the worst in decades. Floods and landslides destroyed bridges and damaged roads in districts located on steep land. Rescue crews evacuated hundreds trapped in their houses. Although the rainfall dwindled by Friday with occasional heavy showers, weather forecasts show rainfall on Saturday and Sunday, and authorities warn locals to be alert against the risk of landslides and flooding, especially in rural areas.

Provinces in the region are situated in rough terrain where mountains run parallel to the coast. Locals are often forced to build residences on slopes, leading to casualties in landslides. In Ordu, 14 bridges were destroyed by unprecedented floodwaters and 16 houses were completely destroyed. Officials say as the soil softens, landslides may follow heavy rain.

Mehmet Halis Bilden, acting director of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), told reporters during a visit to flood-hit areas that the government would compensate locals' losses and the process of rebuilding destroyed houses and infrastructure would start in the near future.