Violent storm leaves four dead across Turkey

ISTANBUL (AA) - Violent storms ripped across Turkey on Sunday, leaving four people dead, according to officials.

In southern Mersin province, wind speed reached 100 kilometers per hour, which downed electric poles and trees, said local meteorology directorate.

Meryem Toprak, a 28-year-old woman, got killed after she was trapped under a tree downed by the strong wind in Akdeniz district of Mersin, said a health official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media.

In northern Trabzon province, the storm moved a rock that fell on a house of Hasan Topal, killing the 71-year-old man. 14 houses were evacuated following the deadly incident, said emergency directorate AFAD officials.

Strong wind also downed a tree in northeastern Artvin province which fell on Sehrinaz Ilbeyi and her daughter while they were working on their farm. Sehrinaz Ilbeyi died at the scene and her daughter was rushed to hospital in Artvin.

Cimen Senel, a mother of four, is another victim of Sunday's violent storm. The 55-year-old was wounded by a piece that fell from her house's roof in eastern Ardahan province. She died on the way to hospital.

Strong winds were also felt in northern Rize, central Nevsehir, Sivas, and Yozgat provinces, and eastern Siirt, Erzurum and Erzincan provinces.

Meteorological reports say strong wind would leave the country as of Monday noon.