A severe rainstorm in Istanbul has resulted in the closure of the city, causing flooding in various areas and claiming the lives of at least three individuals, as confirmed by authorities on Thursday. The heavy rainfall on Wednesday led to the inundation of homes, businesses, roads, and underpasses, leaving vehicles stranded and causing significant traffic disruptions in Turkey’s largest urban center. In one instance, a car owner was seen searching for his vehicle that had been swept away by floodwaters in the Ayazağa district of Istanbul.
The Istanbul governor’s office reported three fatalities in the city, with four individuals still missing. Tragic incidents included a 14-year-old who was electrocuted while in a park in the Fatih district after stepping into a puddle, and a 34-year-old who slipped on a sidewalk in the Sariyer district, resulting in a fatal head injury. The body of a third victim was discovered near a park in the Kağıthane district. The aftermath of the rainfall in Istanbul showed scattered vehicles in disarray.
A woman was captured walking across a ladder placed over floodwaters in Istanbul. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stated that more than 2,700 individuals stranded by the floods were successfully evacuated across the city. Drone footage depicted partially submerged trucks on flooded streets in Istanbul, emphasizing the scale of the disaster.
Furthermore, a creek overflowed due to the heavy rainfall in Istanbul, as seen in a social media video verified by Reuters. Turkey’s meteorological agency has warned of additional showers in Istanbul and its vicinity in the upcoming days.