Massive Flood Hits Samsun, Turkey! Creeks Overflow in Havza, Vehicles Swept Away

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:22]heavy downpours that hit the Havza district of Samson in the evening hours of Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. six caused two major streams running through the district center to overflow. As streets and alleys were flooded with water, dozens of vehicles were swept away and numerous homes and businesses were submerged. While there were no fatalities, 12 people sustained, minor injuries, and were taken to the hospital. The Samson Governor's office announced that schools in Havza would be closed for one day due to adverse weather conditions and infrastructure damage.

[00:01:08]The general director of meteorology had issued a yellow coded warning for the region prior to the incident. However, the rainfall struck the district with an intensity exceeding the limits indicated in the warning. The local thunderstorm that emerged across Samson in the afternoon intensified over Havza around 6:00 p.m. local time.

[00:01:35]According to meteorological data, the amount of rainfall that fell over a period of approximately 1 to 1.5 hours significantly exceeded seasonal norms.

[00:01:50]The fact that the soil had reached saturation due to previous rainfall emerged as a key factor, accelerating surface runoff. This situation created conditions for the rainwater to flow directly into streets and roads rather than seeping into the ground.

[00:02:20]The Hoti Osman Creek and Tersakin Creek, which run through the district center and form the region's main drainage system, overflowed their banks as they could not handle the volume of incoming water. The Hatchi Osman Creek, whose flow rate rose above critical levels within seconds, diverted into surrounding streets, leaving the district's central areas underwater.

[00:02:57]According to local sources, water levels reached 1.5 m on some streets and avenues. Teams on the ground noted that the instantaneous rainfall intensity per square meter was comparable to the historic flood disaster of 1988.

[00:03:17]Among the areas hardest hit by the flood waters was Kumhuret Square, considered the district's center. While the ground floors of businesses in the square were exposed to flood waters, the entire area was covered in mud and debris. In the Chai and Bachelifler neighborhoods, the basements and ground floors of numerous homes were completely submerged.

[00:03:38]Residents belongings were largely rendered unusable.

[00:03:54]The flood, which directly affected four neighborhoods, also caused serious damage to transportation infrastructure.

[00:04:01]As flood waters dislodged asphalt and sidewalk pavers, closures occurred at bridges and intersections, bringing transportation across the district to a standstill for an extended period.

[00:04:24]>> Dozens of parked vehicles were swept away by the force of the water crashing into one another. Some vehicles overturned and piled up in riverbeds and against walls. According to initial assessments, more than 50 vehicles sustained severe damage. It was reported that the majority of the damaged vehicles were cars and motorcycles.

[00:04:44]Authorities announced that the vehicles would be removed from the streets following damage assessments.

[00:05:09]A striking scene also unfolded during the flood. A young man stranded on top of a car calmly awaited rescue amid the chaos around him. After rescue teams reached the area, the man was evacuated and his condition was reported to be good.

[00:05:35]municipal crews began intensive efforts to drain the water by intervening in the streams with heavy machinery from the very first minutes of the flood. Teams from the Samson Metropolitan Municipality and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, AFAD, continued their work nonstop to remove the mud, debris, and water that had accumulated in the district center using excavators, heavy machinery, and vacuum trucks. District municipalities and law enforcement agencies were also dispatched to the area.

[00:06:18]12 people injured in the incident were taken to the hospital for treatment.

[00:06:22]Officials stated that the injured were not in critical condition and that the discharge process had begun.

[00:06:49]Samson Governor Orhan Tavla conducted an inspection in Havza district following the flood disaster. In a statement to the press, Tava conveyed his well-wishes to the residents of the region and emphasized that the teams were continuing their work without interruption. Havza Mayor Morat I Akeis also conducted inspections in the area and conveyed his wellw wishes to the citizens as schools affected by the flood required repairs and cleaning. clean up.

[00:07:34]The Samson Governor's office announced that classes in schools across Havza would be suspended for one day. The decision was made due to both infrastructure damage and ongoing adverse weather conditions.

[00:08:05]This flood disaster has brought back to the forefront the historic flood that occurred in the district in 1988 due to the overflow of the Hatcha Osman Creek, an event etched in the memory of the local community. The two major floods occurring approximately 38 years apart have once again highlighted that structural issues with the district's drainage infrastructure remain unresolved.

[00:08:41]Officials announced that as part of the reserve construction project, high-risk structures along the riverbed will be expropriated and removed and the riverbed will be widened to prevent such disasters from recurring. Expanding the rehabilitation efforts on the Tersakin Creek to cover the entire watershed is also among the planned steps. However, a definitive timeline for when these projects will be implemented has not yet been shared with the public.

[00:09:15]The general director of meteorology reported that rainy weather will continue to affect Samson and its surroundings in the coming days. While generally overcast and cloudy conditions are expected in the region, intermittent heavy showers are anticipated to continue. A significant drop in temperatures is forecast toward the weekend. Authorities have reiterated their warnings that clogged drainage systems continue to increase the risk of local flooding during heavy rains, urging citizens to remain cautious.

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