Heavy rain halts traffic, railway service in Turkey’s Izmir

IZMIR - Doğan News Agency

An emergency rescue center of Izmir Firefighters Directorate was flooded during the heavy rains. DHA photo

Heavy showers that began in the early hours of Nov. 25 struck the Aegean province of Izmir, halting the traffic including railway services in the city for several hours.

The habitants of Izmir who took to the streets had difficulties reaching their workplaces due to the heavy traffic caused by the disruption of several public transport lines. Heavy rains that flooded into many homes and shops caused material damage.

Four streams overflowed due to the rains and flooding worsened the situation in several districts of the city.

The Basmane Station, a train station linking the city center and the city’s suburbs, and an emergency rescue center of Izmir Firefighters Directorate was flooded during the heavy rains.

Some 80 passengers of a train at Basmane station were stuck inside the train for two hours before being discharged, due to the knee-deep water surrounding the train.

The sea level was measured at around 75 centimeters higher than normal in the morning hours, between 6 a.m and 10.30 a.m, according to the meteorological center of Izmir Cosmopolitan Municipality.

The heavy rains are expected to leave the city on Thursday, according to the meteorology directorate.