Istanbul faced severe disruption on Thursday after torrential downpours that local authorities called the heaviest rainfall recorded in the city since 1942. The severe weather began on Wednesday morning across Turkiye’s largest city and intensified throughout the day.
Flash floods swept through multiple districts, turning streets into raging torrents and dragging vehicles away in the fast-flowing waters. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul confirmed the historical severity of the storm during a press briefing.
“We are talking here about the highest level of precipitation in Istanbul since records began in 1942,” Governor Gul said.
The floods resulted in two fatalities. One victim was a 14-year-old boy who suffered a fatal electric shock after stepping into a puddle in the Balat district. Emergency workers rushed him to a hospital, but medical staff could not revive him.
Officials reported that three other individuals sustained injuries and received hospital treatment for flood-related incidents. Governor Gul announced that schools across Istanbul would remain closed until Monday, and he urged residents to stay home unless necessary.
Residents living in basement properties received specific warnings to relocate to higher floors for the night. Authorities also advised the public to avoid stream beds, underpasses, and other low-lying areas vulnerable to sudden flooding.
Footage shared online captured the scale of the destruction in the northern Sariyer district, where parked vehicles drifted in muddy currents. Other rescue operations involved pulling residents from floodwaters through first-floor windows and transporting people to safety using the shovel of a mechanical digger.
The extreme weather hit aviation networks hard. The transport ministry stated that 43 flights scheduled for Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea were diverted. Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side diverted three incoming flights and temporarily suspended take-offs due to strong winds.
Turkiye’s disaster management agency, AFAD, established a dedicated crisis desk to coordinate emergency responses. By Wednesday evening, the agency registered 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, two blown-off roofs, and 47 stranded individuals.
Meteorological forecasts indicate that the heavy rains will persist through the weekend.
