2009 Istanbul Floods
Meteorological history
DurationSeptember 2009
Overall effects
FatalitiesAt least 31[1]
DamageEstimated $70–175 million[2]
Areas affectedIstanbul, Tekirdağ, rest of the Marmara Region

The 2009 Turkish flash floods were a series of flash floods that occurred on 9 September 2009 in and around Istanbul, Tekirdağ, and the rest of the Marmara Region of Turkey.[3] The floods led to the death of at least 31 people and the cost of damage has been estimated as being in excess of $70 million.[1][4]

Background

The floods followed a two-day period of heavy rainfall, the worst the country had seen for 80 years, which had begun on 7 September.[3] During the evening and night of 8 September the rain became increasingly strong leading to flash floods across the city early on the morning of 9 September, with low-lying areas to the west of the city being the worst affected.[4][5] Turkey's Minister of Environment and Forests, Veysel Eroğlu, described the rain as the "worst in 500 years".[2] The floods were created by the Marmara sea, an inlet of the Mediterranean sea.

Impacts

At least 31 people were killed across the region and dozens were stranded in cars or on rooftops and an unknown number remain missing.[4][5] Three of the deaths occurred in western suburbs of Istanbul on 8 September, 21 people lost their lives in Istanbul on 9 September and seven more in neighboring Tekirdağ Province, where two further people are missing.[2][6] Muammer Güler, governor of Istanbul, said 20 people were injured by the floods.[7] Officials and experts have blamed the high death toll on unplanned urbanization in Istanbul, which has seen buildings constructed in river beds, and an inadequate infrastructure system.[2][7]

In some places the water reached a metre (3 ft) in height, cutting access to Istanbul's main airport and the highway running to Bulgaria and Greece.[8] According to state-run news agency Anatolia Agency, one building collapsed, although there were no reported casualties.[7] Police were deployed to prevent looting from abandoned shops and factories, although the press has recorded instances of looting from vehicles.[8] In north-west Turkey two bridges on the Bahçeköy–Saray highway were also destroyed by floods at the same time.[4] More than 200 cars have been washed into the Marmara Sea and dozens of trucks damaged.[6]

Emergency response

Since the floods began on Tuesday, more than 1,000 people have been rescued by emergency services. Turkish officials have also stated that more than 900 firefighters and rescuers are working in the affected areas, backed up by a fleet of more than 200 vehicles and 30 dinghies.[1] Interior Minister Beşir Atalay has pledged to compensate residents of Istanbul affected by the floods.[2] The Red Crescent Society has dispatched tents, blankets, food and personnel to the area to help survivors.[2]

International reaction

  •  Greece – Greece is "ready to send any kind of aid" to the area according to the Greek ambassador to Turkey[2] and according to the Greek Foreign Minister "to extend every type of assistance to the Turkish people and officials", but made no note to tourists.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Deadly flash floods hit Istanbul". Al Jazeera. 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Record floods kill 31". news.com.au. 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  3. 1 2 "Turks swept away in flash floods". BBC News. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Heaviest Istanbul rains in 80 years kill at least 23". Reuters. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  5. 1 2 "Flash floods slam Istanbul, kill at least 20". Archived from the original on 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  6. 1 2 "Dozens killed as devastating floods hit Turkey". CNN. 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  7. 1 2 3 Booth, Jenny (2009-09-09). "At least 23 die in Istanbul flash floods". The Times. London. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  8. 1 2 Tran, Mark (2009-09-09). "At least 20 killed as sudden floods sweep Istanbul". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  9. ↑ "Greece offers condolence over flood disaster in Turkey haberi - Wednesday, 09 September 2009 21:". Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
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