UPDATE 6 - Floods in Turkey’s Black Sea region have claimed 17 lives: President Erdogan

UPDATES DEATH TOLL; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE; ADDS DETAILS

By Seda Sevencan and Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - Floods in Turkey’s Black Sea region this week have killed at least 17 people with at least one missing, the Turkish president said Thursday.

“May God have mercy on our 17 citizens who lost their lives in the flood disasters in Kastamonu, Sinop and Bartin (provinces). I express my condolences to their relatives and our nation,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.

Erdogan said there is intensive work being conducted in the region by all institutions and organizations.

“We will continue to work day and night to save our citizens stuck in flood areas, to reactivate the transportation arteries that were partially or completely closed, and to eliminate all the grievances caused by the destruction caused by the flood,” he added.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoglu said at a news conference that at least two people were killed in Sinop.

Earlier, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said flash floods triggered by torrential rains left 10 people dead in Kastamonu, while one is missing in Bartin.

Rescue and relief teams have been deployed to flood-hit areas, and the search for the missing person is ongoing, according to officials.

While evacuations in some areas continue, the Turkish Red Crescent is also on the scene to help people affected by the floods.

The charity said it sent two mobile kitchen trucks to the region to serve hot meal and water for 10,000 people.

So far 323 people in Bartin, 682 in Kastamonu, and 302 in Sinop have been evacuated.

Several bridges in these cities have been damaged or have collapsed due to the floods and 274 villages have been left without electricity.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar