NICOSIA (AP) — Three people were killed and one is still missing in northern Cyprus after a flash flood swept their car away, Turkish Cypriot authorities said Thursday.

Turkish Cypriot media said the car the two men and one woman were travelling in was swept off a mountain road near the town of Kyrenia on the ethnically divided Mediterranean island.

Authorities were looking for a missing fourth person in the same car that was found buried in mud a few hundred meters (yards) away.

Torrential rains over the past four days have pounded the small, eastern Mediterranean island nation, causing widespread flooding and power blackouts.

Some Turkish Cypriot officials blamed poor urban planning and construction in river beds for raising the risk of flooding.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, spoke to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci late Thursday to express his condolences and to offer any assistance. Akinci thanked Anastasiades and said Turkish Cypriot authorities were handling the search.

With the weather service forecasting more rain, Turkish Cypriot authorities ordered that all schools stay closed for a second day on Friday to avoid problems with possible flooding.

Divers search for the bodies and the car in the rain water after it has rained all night near Kerynia city in the Turkish Cypriots breakaway north part of Cyprus, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Police in the breakaway north of ethnically split Cyprus say the bodies of three people have been recovered Thursday from river beds at two different locations after flash floods are believed to have swept them away. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A diver searches for the body and car of missing people, in the rain flood water near Kerynia city in the Turkish Cypriots breakaway north part of Cyprus, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Police in the breakaway north of ethnically split Cyprus say the bodies of three people have been recovered Thursday from river beds at two different locations after flash floods are believed to have swept them away. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A man walks inside the reception of a flooded hotel after heavy rain fell overnight near Kerynia city in the Turkish Cypriots breakaway north part of Cyprus, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Police in the breakaway north of ethnically split Cyprus say the bodies of three people have been recovered from river beds at two different locations after flash floods are believed to have swept them away. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A forklift removes destroyed cars after heavy rain caused flash floods near Kerynia city in the Turkish Cypriots breakaway north part of Cyprus, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A man looks a flooded cars outside of a flooded hotel after heavy rain over night near Kerynia city in the Turkish Cypriots breakaway north part of Cyprus, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Police in the breakaway north of ethnically split Cyprus say the bodies of three people have been recovered from river beds at two different locations after flash floods are believed to have swept them away. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)