This shocking footage shows the extent of the devastation caused by the heavy rains that have hit northern Turkey in the past 24 hours.

The rains caused flooding in the country’s West Black Sea Region, and footage shows residents being rescued in inflatable dinghies and even being winched up to safety by a helicopter.

Flooding has occurred in the provinces of Bartin, Sinop, Karabuk and Kastamonu, which has been hit by heavy downpours since Wednesday, 11th August.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) issued a statement today (Thursday, 12th August) reporting a death toll of six, along with one missing person.

Search and rescue efforts to locate the missing person were ongoing at the time of reporting.

The rainfall recorded in the region yesterday is said to be a record, with one third of the annual precipitation falling in just a single day.

According to news site NTV, 400 kilogrammes (882 lbs) of precipitation per square metre (11 sq ft) was recorded in the district of Ulus in the province of Bartin.

Meanwhile, the district of Ayancik in the province of Sinop reported 240 kilogrammes (529 lbs) of precipitation per square metre and the district of Kure in the province of Kastamonu 198 kilogrammes (437 lbs) per square metre.

Residents living in flood-affected districts were evacuated to safe areas. The Ayancik State Hospital, which was damaged by the flood, was also evacuated.

In a statement, the Ministry of Interior warned residents not to leave the safe zones, and it reported that the evacuation works are continuing.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated that the water level has reached four metres (13 ft) in some areas and said: “There are places that we have not heard from yet.”

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez held a press conference about the disaster.

Pakdemirli said: “When we look meteorologically, we are faced with a disaster that may occur once in 100 years. As claimed, there is no problem with the HES (hydroelectric power plant) in the region.”

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced in a statement that electricity could not be supplied to nearly 30,000 households in the flooded region.

According to news site TRT, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not provide information on what kind of assistance will be provided to the residents affected by the floods.

However, he warned residents of the region against possible landslides and asked them not to use the motorways.