Heavy rain hit the Silifke and Erdemli districts of Mersin on Wednesday, flooding streets in Taşucu, causing streams to overflow and leaving strawberry greenhouses under water, the İhlas news agency (İHA) and the regional outlet Aksiyon reported. The downpour began around midday, after the Meteorology Service’s 6th Regional Directorate had warned of heavy rain for the province.
Streams overflow in Silifke
In Silifke, streams burst their banks in the Yeşilovacık and Işıklı neighbourhoods, according to İHA. Streets and roads in Taşucu were covered by floodwater. In the Çavuşbucağı neighbourhood, greenhouses planted with strawberries were submerged, and water from the streams also reached other farmland, damaging crops. Neither report gave a figure for the area affected or the cost of the damage.
Some vehicles became stuck on flooded roads and were pulled out by tow trucks. Aksiyon said some roads were closed or disrupted but did not name them. In Erdemli, a sudden downpour left water pooling at many points in the town centre. Neither report mentioned any injuries.
More rain expected on Republic Day
The regional meteorology directorate said the rain would continue and that very heavy, locally severe rain was expected in Mersin and the surrounding area on Thursday 29 October, Republic Day. It warned of floods, flash floods, landslides, lightning, local hail, strong winds and tornadoes. The disaster agency AFAD also sent a warning message for Mersin about heavy and severe showers on Thursday, Mersin Portal and Malatya Güncel reported.
Erdemli is one of the districts placed under an orange warning for Thursday, as covered in our Republic Day weather warning report. The same weather system flooded roads and caused stream overflows in Muğla on Wednesday, as reported in our Muğla rain story.
Advice for residents
Authorities in Mersin advised people to avoid driving unless necessary, and urged residents of low-lying areas and homes near stream beds to follow official warnings and contact the emergency services if needed, Aksiyon reported. Residents and visitors who plan to attend Republic Day events on Thursday should check updates from the Mersin Governor’s Office and AFAD before setting out.
Sources
- Mersin Silifke ve Erdemli’de şiddetli yağış ulaşımı ve tarımı olumsuz etkiledi (İHA via Haberler.com)
- Mersin’de sağanak sele dönüştü: yollar ve seralar etkilendi (Aksiyon)
- Mersin’de AFAD’dan Üst Üste Uyarılar Sel Riski (Mersin Portal)
- AFAD’dan Mersin için kuvvetli sağanak uyarısı (Malatya Güncel)
Photo: Cobija / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
