Turkey's family and social services ministry has sent 212 staff and 39 vehicles to households hit by the Istanbul floods on 14 October. The teams are giving psychological and social support, minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas said.
This report follows our earlier story on the heaviest rainfall in Istanbul in 84 years. The governor said it flooded streets and homes and killed people.
"Some of our citizens are missing. Sadly, we have people who have died," Goktas told reporters. She said the search for the missing is going on without delay.
The minister toured the Ayazaga area in Sariyer district and visited the crisis centre. She said the flood did major damage, especially to basements and some homes. Ministry staff are also working in other parts of Istanbul, in co-ordination with the interior ministry and the provincial administration. All agencies and ministries are continuing their work under the governor's lead, Goktas said, and she thanked the teams working around the clock.
The day before her statement, 200m lira was released for people's urgent needs. On the day of the statement, a further 40m lira went to Kocaeli, Sakarya and Antalya. Shortly before that, Yalova made a request, and 2m lira was released for two central districts there.
People who ask for it are being put up in hotels. Charities and district heads are co-ordinating this. Families' needs are being assessed on the spot with the charities. In the worst-hit area, a truck from AFAD, Turkey's disaster and emergency management agency, is taking requests from residents directly.
The minister was briefed on the situation in an AFAD mobile vehicle. Istanbul governor Davut Gul, AFAD head Ali Hamza Pehlivan and Zero Waste Foundation head Samed Ayrbas took part in the tour.
After her statement, Goktas spoke with people affected by the floods.