International Charter activated for floods and landslides in Turkey

The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters has been triggered to provide satellite-based emergency maps in response to floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in the Artvin Province of Turkey. The mechanism was activated yesterday, 26 August 2015, at 18:50 (UTC+03:00) by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey (AFAD) on behalf of the Department of Informations Systems and Communication.

The International Charter reported: "The flood waters have damaged homes in the area, and the landslides crushed some houses. Some properties were particularly susceptible to the disaster, being located in stream beds and in mountainous terrain. In addition to flooding and damaging homes, roads have also been blocked by debris or made impassable by the flood waters, cutting off access to some remote villages in the area."

Emergency workers began search and rescue efforts on 25 August, and started work on draining the flood waters.