Talabani expresses sympathy with Turkey over flash floods

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani expressed his sincere sympathy and condolences with Turkish people over flash floods in northwestern part of the country, according to a presidential statement. This came in a cable sent by Talabani to his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. Turkey’s largest city Istanbul has been inundated by flash floods sparked by torrential rains. The death toll has already passed two dozen and is expected to continue to rise. The flooding has brought much of the city to a halt and is being described as the worst to hit the city in decades. The floods hit the western suburbs of Istanbul the hardest, turning many of the city’s main roads into fast moving rivers of mud and dirt during early morning rush hour. Hundreds of people were trapped in cars and buses, while tens of thousands more were forced out of their homes. Throughout the day army and coast guard helicopters helped people to safety. But others were not so lucky as this man explains. SH (P) 1