Four people have been confirmed dead and another eleven are still missing following an outbreak of flash floods in Giresun Province, on the Black Sea coast of Anatolian Turkey, amid heavy rains that began on Saturday 22 August 2020, and which are expected to persist for several more days. A total of 127 people have had to be rescued so far, with more rescues likely as over a hundred communities have been cut off by floodwaters, with numerous vehicles having been swept away and several buildings having collapsed after being undermined by floodwaters.
Like many dry areas, Anatolia, while generally experiencing low rainfall, is prone to occasional severe flooding. This stems from two causes; firstly the arid climate prevents the development of a thick soil layer which would be expected in less dry areas, so that in much of the area (non-porous) bedrock is either exposed or close to the surface, and secondly the hot climate leads to heavy evaporation from nearby seas and oceans, so that if the wind changes direction and brings water-laden air to the area, it brings a lot of precipitation with it. This combination of heavy rainfall and low ground absorbency leads to large amounts of water at the surface, typically moving downhill at some speed. Wadis, dry channels or ravines through which these sudden floods are channelled, can be particularly dangerous at these times, particularly as they often appear to resemble natural pathways or even camp sites to people unfamiliar with the climate.
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