Updated May 06, 2018 11:42:57

A torrential flood has swept through a district in the Turkish capital of Ankara, sending vehicles downstream and damaging local businesses.

The rain was expected to last for three hours on Saturday afternoon (local time), but instead came down in nine minutes, causing flooding in Ankara's Mamak district.

Ankara's Mayor, Mustafa Tuna, told local media it was a "natural disaster like never before".

Four people were injured in the floods, which damaged more than 160 cars and 25 businesses, Turkish Social Security Minister Julide Sarieroglu said.

Footage showed cars and trucks being swept away in fast-moving floodwaters.

One man escaped being submerged by climbing on top of a car caught in the flood, and was seen crouching on the bonnet and riding the vehicle downstream.

The Turkish Red Crescent, a humanitarian organisation, said a team of volunteers were cooking soup for people and crews in the area.

Ms Sarieroglu said the Government was working to assess and alleviate the damage.

Photo: More than 160 cars and 25 businesses were damaged in the floods, authorities said. (Twitter: Turkish Red Crescent Ankara)

ABC/AP

Topics: disasters-and-accidents, floods, turkey

First posted May 06, 2018 11:23:30