8 killed, 3 missing in flash floods in Turkey

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

People work to clean their property after flash floods left them swamped out with debris piled high, in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods were triggered by torrential rains in the region have caused deaths, washed away a bridge and caused massive damage to many hundreds of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

Damaged cars and boats, seen in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed six people and left swaths of lands in northwestern Turkey awash. At least three people were reported missing. Heavy rains caused floods in the Silivri and Catalca suburbs of Istanbul, as well, immersing homes and roads, officials said. Heavy rains that began late Monday washed away one bridge and inundated hundreds of homes in the Saray region. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

People survey the area with roadways washed away following flash floods in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods were triggered by torrential rains in the region and have caused deaths, washed away a bridge and caused massive damage to many hundreds of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

Cars lay abandoned following flash floods near the sea in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods were triggered by torrential rains in the region and have caused deaths, washed away a bridge and caused massive damage to many hundreds of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

A rescue helicopter flies over a flooded area in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed six people and left swaths of lands in northwestern Turkey awash. At least three people were reported missing. Heavy rains caused floods in the Silivri and Catalca suburbs of Istanbul, as well, immersing homes and roads, officials said. Heavy rains that began late Monday washed away one bridge and inundated hundreds of homes in the Saray region. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

Cars are partially submerged near the sea, following flash floods in Selimpasa, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Flash floods were triggered by torrential rains in the region and have caused deaths, washed away a bridge and caused massive damage to many hundreds of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

ANKARA, Turkey — Flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed eight people and left swaths of land in northwestern Turkey awash Tuesday. At least three people were reported missing.

Nazmi Coban, the mayor of the town of Saray, said rescue workers there recovered the bodies of a mother and her three daughters, and were still searching for the father who was swept away by floods.

Rescuers also found the bodies of an elderly couple whose house collapsed in the floods, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported. Saray is in Tekirdag province, close to the border with Greece.

Two bodies were discovered in the Istanbul suburb of Catalca, local Mayor Yuksel Ayhan told private NTV television.

Heavy rains that began late Monday washed away bridges and roads, and inundated hundreds of homes in the region. Dozens of farm animals were swept away by gushing waters.

Heavy rains caused floods in Istanbul's seaside Silivri suburb, as well, and two people were reported missing. One was a girl whose mother and sister managed to get out of a car safely before the girl was dragged away by the floods, Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said.

In Silivri, police and military helicopters were sent to rescue people confined to their homes, according to television footage. Dozens of cars were swept away, some ending up in the sea. A fire truck could be seen lying on its side.

People climbed on top of rooftops waiting to be rescued, NTV reported.

Two international highways linking Istanbul to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria were closed temporarily, Anatolia reported.

On Monday, a Cambodia-flagged freighter broke into two and sank in heavy storms off the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. All 12 crew members were rescued.

More rain was forecast for the area Wednesday.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed six people and left swaths of lands in northwestern Turkey awash Tuesday. At least three people were reported missing.

Nazmi Coban, the mayor of the town of Saray, said rescue workers there recovered the bodies of four people, including a 6-year-old girl, and were searching for another member of the family who was swept away by floods.

Rescuers also found the bodies of an elderly couple whose house collapsed in the floods, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported. Saray is in Tekirdag province, close to the border with Greece.

Heavy rains that began late Monday washed away one bridge and inundated hundreds of homes in the Saray region. Dozens of farm animals were swept away by gushing waters.

Heavy rains caused floods in the Silivri and Catalca suburbs of Istanbul, as well, immersing homes and roads, officials said. Two people were reported missing. One was a girl, whose mother and sister managed to get out of a car safely before the girl was dragged away by the floods, Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said.

In Silivri, police and military helicopters were sent to rescue people confined to their homes, according to television footage. Dozens of cars were swept away. A fire truck could be seen lying on its side.

Two international highways linking Istanbul to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria were closed temporarily, Anatolia reported.

On Monday, a Cambodia-flagged freighter broke into two and sank in heavy storms off the coast of Istanbul. All 12 crew members were rescued.

More rain was forecast for the area Wednesday.

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