Turkey is bracing itself for bad weather this week but it seems residents have learned from past experiences as many have already begun putting some slightly peculiar risk mitigation strategies in place.
Last July, heavy storms battered the city of Istanbul and hundreds of thousands of cars were damaged as a result of giant hailstones and the subsequent flooding.
This time, insurance agencies have urged drivers to park in garages in order to avoid damage – however, many are unable to access a covered space and have been forced to adopt less conventional tactics.
In fact, countless motorists have been seen covering their cars with rugs, blankets, carpets and even bubble wrap in an attempt to deflect the heavy hail. One motorcyclist was even seen in a home-made suit of cardboard, apparently fashioned to protect him from the impending hailstones which, last year, were reported to be the size of golf balls.
However, while the efforts do show ingenuity, not everyone seems to be impressed.
Turkish meteorology and disaster relief expert Mikdat Kadıoğlu complained that residents were more worried about their material possessions than their own personal safety.
“What a nation we are – I am warning about torrential rains, hail storms, lightening and tornadoes but people only care about the hailstorm,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News.
“They may die in a flood or be hit by lightning or a tornado, but they don’t care about their own lives. Their cars are more important. Damn your cars!”
