Article updated: Kalkan and Kaş were hit with heavy rain and severe  winds last night.

Two small fishing boats capsized in Kalkan harbour, whilst Kaş is reported to have lost three small boats.

In this KTLN photo special news report, we describe the damage experienced in Kalkan.

Update: In our original article, we reported winds of up to 109 nautical miles per hour.  This was the information relayed to us from the Coast Guard (Sahil Güvenlik).  It has subsequently been pointed out to us that this wind speed is highly unlikely, and we believe the gusts may have been 109 kilometres per hour.  Apologies for this error.  Perhaps we lost something in translation.  Whatever it was, it was exceptionally windy!

The storm gathered in intensity on Monday evening, and peaked overnight. Electricity supplies were affected, with some properties still without power more than 12 hours later.

Rainwater cascaded down the mountain sides, following the usual route down to the harbour. The Belediye workers have been out in atrocious conditions, removing debris from the roads.

Road surfaces have coped well, with little damage in evidence. Some roadside walls were turned into waterfalls - see below.

In town, we didn't spot any significant damage, although the bougainvillea tree on the corner of Gironda was brought down by the gusting wind.

The main problems appear to have been on the coast. Kalkan town beach was battered by waves up to 5 metres high, and the Pinar Büfe cafe was affected as chairs and tables were hurled around in the swirling wind. The adjacent children's playground suffered some minor damage, as part of the wooden fencing was blown down.

 

 

The stormy sea generated massive waves, which came crashing over the breakwater, which is how two boats became waterlogged, and then capsized.

Above photo courtesy of Kalkan Haber.

 

Unusually, due to harbour improvements, most of the boats were still in the water, and despite being behind the breakwater, they were tossed around by the stormy seas.  A digger was used to hoist some vulnerable small boats, unceremoniously, out of the water.

 

 

Had the boats been out of the water, and stood alongside each other, perhaps they would have fared better. However, if any single boat had been blown over on the quayside, there could have been a devastating domino effect. Who knows?

 

The Indigo beach club concrete platform (below), has been badly damaged by the waves, and this will require major reconstruction in time for the new season.

 

 

KTLN has not seen any other beach clubs, but we wouldn't be surprised if there is more damage.  Below: Yalı beach club, as seen from Kızıltaş.

Today, the winds have died down, but there is persistent rain, under gloomy skies. The forecast for the rest of the week shows more rain to come.

KTLN - your window on Kalkan Turkey.

Katie-Ellen
Love KTLN.  Love Kalkan.