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Turkey Floods Hit Erdogan Heartland in Latest Pre-Election Test

  • State response to disasters under spotlight after earthquakes
  • Floods kill 15 in area still reeling from February temblors
Emergency services assist residents following heavy rains in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on March 15.

Emergency services assist residents following heavy rains in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on March 15.

Photographer: Hakan Akgun/DIA

Flooding from torrential rains killed at least 15 people in Turkey’s southeast, where many people are still recovering from last month’s catastrophic earthquakes, state-run TRT television said Thursday.

Flash floods filled an underpass inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just over three months ago in the city center of Sanliurfa, a base of support for his ruling Justice and Development Party. At least 13 people drowned in the city and two more died in neighboring Adiyaman, TRT reported.