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The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) deployed 666 personnel and 277 vehicles to respond to severe flooding that struck Izmir's Foca district on Thursday, as rescue teams continued searching for a 70-year-old man swept away by floodwaters.
AFAD Head Ali Hamza Pehlivan said search and rescue operations remained ongoing in Yeni Foca's Bucak district, where the man's vehicle was swept into a stream during the flooding.
"We have not yet reached our citizen," Pehlivan said, noting that divers from AFAD, police, gendarmerie and coast guard units continued searching using coastal search methods.
"The emergency response came after approximately 144 kilograms of rain fell per square meter within 1.5 hours on Thursday afternoon in Foca," according to Pehlivan.
The 112 Emergency Call Center received 207 emergency reports related to flooding, water inundation and people trapped in vehicles or buildings.
Pehlivan said divers from Izmir responded immediately when authorities learned a vehicle with an occupant had been swept into Bucak Stream.
Rescue teams located and extracted the vehicle 1.5 kilometers downstream, but found no one inside. "Unfortunately, we have not yet reached our citizen, whom we determined to be 70 years old," Pehlivan said.
Teams from AFAD, police, gendarmerie and coast guard units called in reinforcements from neighboring provinces to assist in rescue operations.
"At this point in time we are continuing our searches using what we call coastal search methods. However, we have not yet reached our citizen, but as daylight breaks we will continue search and rescue operations along this stream with intensity," Pehlivan said.
Pehlivan added that AFAD, highway authorities, state water works, police, gendarmerie, municipal services, fire rescue and provincial health department teams coordinated response efforts, adding, "All institutions are working in a coordinated manner to ensure the safety of our citizens' lives and property."
The heavy rainfall damaged numerous residences and businesses across Foca and surrounding districts.
Water accumulated in streets and alleyways in Aliaga, Karaburun, Menemen and Urla districts. In Urla's Cesmealti neighborhood, sewage systems overflowed and water pooled on roads.
The rainfall caused a stream in Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Neighborhood to overflow, sweeping away an automobile that became lodged against barriers. The Yenifoca Preschool sustained roof damage and was flooded, prompting the evacuation of students as a precaution.
Traffic congestion developed in central Izmir as the downpour affected the city's main arteries in Konak, Bayrakli and Karsiyaka districts. Water accumulation on Karsiyaka's Aziz Nesin Boulevard caused vehicles to progress with difficulty.
Can Korkmaz, a resident of the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Neighborhood, said his home was flooded and his personal belongings were damaged. Tahsin Tiras described the rainfall as suddenly intensifying without warning.
"Many vehicles were damaged when the stream overflowed," Tiras said.
"Water that came from upstream entered the building as is. The building's interior is already devastated. You cannot enter inside. It took the parked car and brought it here. It did not take 10-15 minutes, it happened all at once," he added.
Selahattin Tezcan, a Fevzi Cakmak Neighborhood resident, said he and his brother spent nearly an hour using buckets to remove water that seeped through his rear balcony.
"The rain started calmly, then suddenly increased its intensity rapidly," Tezcan said.
"We were watching the rain. Suddenly it poured down. We became alarmed. Quite a bit of water seeped in from the rear balcony. My brother and I threw out water with buckets for about an hour. We managed to save a bit, but our home still sustained a considerable amount of damage. I am 56 years old, I am from Yeni Foca. For the first time in my life I have experienced something like this," he added.
Aysel Tuna said she was away from home during the rainfall and learned of the flooding from neighbors. "Many items in my home became unusable, and because of this I feel profound sadness," Tuna said.
"In 30 years, for the first time water entered my home. I am very upset. Everything is covered in mud. Probably the toilets also overflowed. We threw out the carpets. My son is dealing with them, my nephew came to help. I don't know what to do," she added.
Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said 19 divers worked in the water while land-based teams conducted search operations. "The missing man's wallet was found during the search," Elban said, confirming efforts would continue through the night and intensify at daybreak.
"Our search and rescue operations will continue until morning. Starting with morning, 12 additional divers will join our team. Hopefully we will find him by morning. If we cannot find him, our team will be somewhat strengthened and we will continue search and rescue operations with intensity," Elban said.
Elban reported that 169 homes and businesses experienced water inundation as a result of the rainfall. He said government agencies prepared accommodations and camps for affected residents if needed.
"There are, thank God, no deaths or injuries among those experiencing the flooding. For all of our citizens there, should they have any needs, we have prepared guest houses and camps belonging to our public institutions," Elban said.
Provincial authorities from the Provincial Treasury, Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change, and Agriculture and Forestry departments were conducting damage assessments. Elban said officials planned to complete damage surveys by the following evening.
The missing man was identified as Bulent Kaptanoglu, 70, a retired banker who had gone to the area to collect mushrooms.
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