Turkey: 7 people missing after flash floods

By Ibrahim Yozoglu and Omer Urer

DUZCE, Turkey (AA) - Seven people are missing following flash floods in Duzce province, Turkey's interior minister said Thursday.

Suleyman Soylu said in a press statement that 135 people have been rescued, noting that rescue units spotted 212 residents who were stranded and six helicopters were used for search and rescue operations.

Four of the seven missing were identified as children, he said.

Soylu said rescue units in the region, which currently number 24, will be increased.

Search operations will particularly be focused along the 21-kilometer-long riverbank, he said.

"All residents trapped in villages were rescued by helicopter. We have reached almost every region to provide food and shelter," Soylu said.

The shelter needs of 135 people were met, he added.

Cumayeri, a district of northwestern Duzce province, was hit late Wednesday by heavy rainfall that triggered landslides and blocked roads to villages.

*Writing by Dilara Hamit