Flood-struck areas in Rize to be declared a disaster area

Photos: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Parts of Turkey's Black Sea region hit by flooding and landslides will be officially declared a disaster area, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday (July 17).

Speaking at a hospital opening and inaugurations of other newly completed projects in the eastern Erzurum province, Erdogan said the formal declaration will be announced after the next Cabinet meeting, likely at the start of next week.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said downpours hit northeastern Rize on Wednesday after landslides caused heavy damage in some areas, with a building destroyed in the village of Muradiye.

At least six people died, with two people missing, in flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu came to the region to assess the situation along with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu and Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum.

Around 5 million Turkish lira (582,000 USD) will be sent to the region to help recovery efforts. (RT/VK)