Overview

• Severe storms in Turkey caused a cargo ship, the Kafkametler, to sink in the Black Sea, resulting in the death of one crew member and leaving 11 others missing.
• The storms also caused widespread damage and disruption, including the breakup of another cargo ship, the Cameroon-flagged Pallada, and the evacuation of a prison due to rising water levels.
• Rescue operations for the missing crew members of the Kafkametler were initially delayed due to the poor weather conditions, but have since commenced.
• The storms have resulted in at least nine deaths across Turkey, including four people killed by floodwaters in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Batman.
• The severe weather follows an extended drought in Turkey, which scientists attribute to climate change and poor water management.