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Flooding in Istanbul Kills Two After Heaviest Rainfall in 84 Years
Confirmed
In Short: Istanbul was hit by the heaviest rainfall in over 80 years, causing flooding that killed two people and disrupted daily life.
Istanbul was battling severe flooding Thursday after what officials described as the heaviest rainfall in over 80 years, leading to two deaths and widespread disruption.
Governor Davut Gul said, 'We are talking here about the highest level of precipitation in Istanbul since records began in 1942.' The downpour caused 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, and stranded 47 people, with two roofs blown off.
One of the fatalities was a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle in the Balat area. Another three people were hospitalized.
Schools were closed across Istanbul until Monday, and the governor urged residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary, especially those living in basement properties.
Emergency services received 2,518 weather-related incident reports, with floodwaters inundating roads, homes, and businesses. Some areas saw rainfall equivalent to one-seventh of the annual average.
In Sakarya province, around 150 kilometers east of Istanbul, a two-story house built on a riverbed collapsed due to the floods, according to HaberTurk television.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the Ömerli area of Beykoz, where precipitation reached 193.84 kilograms per square meter. Other areas experienced varying levels of rainfall, including 125.9 kilograms per square meter in Arnavutköy.
The Istanbul Governor's Office advised residents to avoid stream beds, underpasses, and other areas at risk of flooding. Public transport hours were expanded to 02:00 local time.
Forty-three flights bound for Istanbul Airport and three flights heading for Sabiha Gokcen airport were diverted due to strong winds and heavy rain.
The country’s weather agency has predicted more showers for Istanbul and the surrounding area in the coming days.
Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided off Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara, with one ship carrying 10 crew members losing contact. The governor’s office said there was no visible damage to the Alsu.
What's confirmed
- Istanbul was on Thursday battling to recover from flooding caused by what officials said was the heaviest rainfall in the city since records began more than 80 years ago, as the downpour continued.
- "We are talking here about the highest level of precipitation in Istanbul since records began in 1942," Istanbul governor Davut Gul said.
- Turkey's AFAD disaster agency has set up a crisis desk to manage incidents caused by the heavy rainfall, which by nightfall Wednesday had risen to 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, 47 people stranded and two roofs blown off.
- He advised residents to stay away from "stream beds, underpasses and other areas at risk of flooding".
- Forty-three flights bound for Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea had to be diverted, as did three flights heading for the city's Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side, which also temporarily suspended take-offs due to strong winds, the transport ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency Anadolu.
- On Wednesday evening, the governor said schools would be shut across Istanbul until Monday, urging people to stay home "unless absolutely necessary" and advising those living in basement properties "to spend the night on safer, higher floors".
- Two people died in the floods, one of them a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle in the Balat area.
What's still developing
- The heavy rains are expected to continue over the weekend.
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- The flooding also impacted air travel, with 46 planes unable to land at airports in Istanbul, BBC Turkish said.
- "I urge all our citizens to remain vigilant against the expected heavy rain and storm, particularly during nighttime hours," he wrote on X.
- According to data from the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Tugberk Imamoglu is a bulk carrier, while the Alsu operates as a chemical tanker.
- According to the Istanbul Governor’s office, the vessel, Alsu, which was sailing towards the Aegean port of Aliaga, and the Tugberk Imamoglu, en route to the Black Sea port of Karadeniz Eregli, collided off Istanbul’s Silivri district at around 3 am.