Asia Pacific
Torrential rain and flooding that began on Wednesday wreaked havoc across Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city, with the effects continuing into Thursday. Heavy rainfall turned roads into pools of water and inundated dozens of homes,
Torrential rain and flooding that began on Wednesday wreaked havoc across Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city, with the effects continuing into Thursday. Heavy rainfall turned roads into pools of water and inundated dozens of homes, while emergency teams continued rescue operations to evacuate people trapped by floods and landslides. According to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 242 millimeters of rain were recorded in the Beykoz district, making it one of the heaviest rainfall events recorded in the city since 1985. Eyüpsultan received 190.5 millimeters, while 187.9 millimeters were recorded in Sarıyer. The municipality received 6,937 emergency calls, while the governor’s office confirmed 1,277 flooding incidents, landslides at 15 locations, and people trapped at 47 sites.
Two people lost their lives as a result of the heavy rain and flooding. In Çukurbostan Park in the historic Fatih district, a 14-year-old boy identified as M.I. was electrocuted after stepping into the water. According to the governor’s office, he was taken to hospital unconscious but later died. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The second incident occurred in Sarıyer, where a 34-year-old man identified as S.Y. lost his balance while crossing a flooded road and struck his head against the pavement. He later died in hospital from his injuries.
Residential areas including Esenyurt, Beykoz, Küçükçekmece and Sarıyer were also severely flooded. In Esenyurt, residents rescued a woman from being swept away by floodwaters, while in Beykoz, locals pulled an elderly man from a flooded home as he was in danger of drowning. Heavy rainfall also caused the Kağıthane stream to overflow, inundating the historic Sadabad Mosque and the surrounding area. Floodwater reached the prayer hall and the lower part of the pulpit.
Strong winds and a severe rainstorm significantly disrupted flight operations at Istanbul’s two major airports. According to the Ministry of Transport, 43 flights scheduled to land at Istanbul Airport were diverted. Of these, 39 were redirected to other airports in Türkiye and four to airports abroad. Flights at Sabiha Gökçen Airport were also temporarily suspended because of strong winds. However, operations resumed late Wednesday night. Flooding at metro stations, underpasses and major roads also disrupted traffic across the city. Public transport services began recovering on Thursday morning, and Metro Istanbul announced that services had been fully restored on most tram and metro lines.
Due to the continued severe weather, authorities closed all educational institutions on Thursday in Istanbul, Düzce, Zonguldak, Sakarya, Kocaeli and Yalova. Several universities in Istanbul shifted classes online, while government employees were granted administrative leave. Authorities also imposed restrictions on the use of motorcycles and scooters in Istanbul and Yalova. More than 8,000 personnel, along with over 2,000 pieces of heavy machinery and vehicles, have been deployed across Istanbul for emergency and relief operations. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül urged residents, particularly those living in basements, to move to safer upper floors and avoid areas near streams and waterways. The Disaster Coordination Centre warned that a further 50 to 75 millimeters of rain could fall in the city’s Asian side and areas around the Bosphorus Strait. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and follow official safety instructions.
