Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria Devastated as Historic Flooding Claims 7 Lives

At least seven people have been killed and dozens are still missing after torrential rains hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria on Sept. 5, prompting flash flooding.

In Turkey, two people died in the city of Istanbul after flash flooding swept through the streets in the districts of Arnavutköy, Başakşehir, and Küçükçekmece, leaving many of them completely submerged, minister of internal affairs Ali Yerlikaya said.

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The country’s minister of health Fahrettin Koca said 12 people also sustained injuries owing to flooding, while the Istanbul Municipality said around 1,754 houses and workplaces were also impacted by the heavy rain.

The flooding also temporarily shut down some subway stations, a hospital, and some main roads, officials said.

More than 2,000 emergency personnel were deployed overnight to help locals stranded in their homes, businesses, and vehicles following the flooding, according to officials.

Elsewhere in the country, Mr. Yerlikaya said two people were killed and four others were missing after flash flooding swept into a campsite in Kirklareli province, which is located near the border with Bulgaria.

Approximately 12 people were holidaying in the area at the time when the flash flooding occurred, he said.

Record-Breaking Rainfall

Mr. Yerlikaya said on X, formerly known as Twitter, later on Tuesday that search teams are still attempting to locate the missing individuals while sharing his condolences with those who lost their lives.

Elsewhere in Greece, one person was killed and at least five people were reported missing following Tuesday’s flash flooding, with the central town of Volos, the nearby mountain region of Pilion, and the resort island of Skiathos receiving record amounts of rainfall within just hours.

Greece’s weather service said a Pilion region village received 75.4 centimeters (nearly 30 inches) of rain late Tuesday, breaking records for the highest level recorded since at least 2006.

The average annual rainfall in the Athens region is around 40 centimeters (15.75 inches), it noted.