SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Extreme winds killed four people including a foreign national in Istanbul, governor’s office said on Monday.
Turkey’s Meteorology General Directorate (MGM) said strong winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour were felt in Istanbul on Monday, according to Reuters.
It further said extreme conditions were expected in nearby provinces like western coastal city of Izmir, warning that the winds would continue on Tuesday.
“Due to the adverse weather conditions caused by southwesterly winds that have been effective in Istanbul since the morning, four people have lost their lives, one of whom was a foreign national and three were our citizens; 19 of our citizens were wounded, three of whom are in critical condition,” Reuters quoted the Istanbul Governor’s office as saying in a statement.
Footage showed the winds had knocked down parts of buildings, including concrete slabs off roofs and walls, Reuters said, with pedestrians seen narrowly escaping the flying debris.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s flag-carrier Turkish Airlines reported disruptions to its flight schedule, while the Bosphorus has been closed to traffic from both directions.
Footage from Izmir also showed sea levels rising, with high waves crashing along the shores of the Aegean city, while roads appeared to have been overflowing with water.
