A severe rainfall in Istanbul has resulted in the closure of the city, submerging roads and residences, and causing the deaths of at least three individuals, as per official reports released on Thursday. The intense downpour on Wednesday led to the flooding of houses and commercial establishments, as well as the deluging of roadways and tunnels, leaving vehicles stranded and triggering traffic disruptions in Turkey’s largest urban center. In one instance, a vehicle owner can be seen searching for his car that was swept away by a flood in Istanbul’s Ayazağa district.
The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed three fatalities in the city and indicated that four more individuals were unaccounted for. Reports from local media revealed that a 14-year-old succumbed to electrocution after stepping into a puddle at a park in the Fatih neighborhood, while a 34-year-old slipped on a sidewalk in the Sariyer area, resulting in a fatal head injury. The body of a third victim was recovered near a park in the Kagithane district, according to the governor’s office. The aftermath of the rainfall in Istanbul is depicted by scattered vehicles in the vicinity.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi disclosed that over 2,700 individuals stranded due to the floods were successfully evacuated across the city. A woman is seen crossing floodwaters on a ladder in Istanbul. Additionally, a drone footage displays trucks partially submerged on a flooded street in the city. A creek overflow following the heavy rainfall in Istanbul was captured in a social media video, as confirmed by Reuters. The Turkish meteorological agency has foreseen more rainfall for Istanbul and its environs in the upcoming days.