The Turkish Armed Forces have deployed more than 2,600 soldiers, nearly 100 civilian defense workers, and three helicopters to support relief operations across the flood-stricken provinces of Batman, Bitlis, and Diyarbakır in southeastern Türkiye, the General Staff announced Saturday.
Flooding that began 31 October killed 21 people, left two others missing, and damaged 552 homes and livestock shelters within 48 hours. The Batman Crisis Desk reported that more than 4,000 buildings and commercial premises in the region sustained damage, and 77 villages and 86 hamlets remained without electricity.
The military distributed 2,500 loaves of bread, 276 kilograms of food, blankets, and other supplies in Batman and Bitlis on 1 November. The Batman Governor's Office added 750 blankets and 100 heaters for displaced residents.
The Red Crescent dispatched nearly 1,000 tents, more than 10,000 blankets, eight portable kitchens, 2,700 beds, 2,300 dried-food packages, and 475 heaters to five affected provinces, including a district of Istanbul.
In the eastern province of Muş, a separate tornado injured one child and caused damage to homes and businesses.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.