A severe rainstorm has caused the closure of Istanbul, leading to flooding in streets and homes, and resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals, officials revealed on Thursday. The intense rainfall that occurred on Wednesday submerged residential and commercial properties, as well as roadways and tunnels, leaving vehicles stranded and causing significant traffic disruptions in Turkey’s largest city.
In one instance, a car owner was seen searching for his vehicle that had been swept away by floodwaters in Istanbul’s Ayazağa district. The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed three fatalities in the city and disclosed that four others were reported missing.
Tragic incidents included a 14-year-old who was electrocuted while walking in a park in the Fatih district after stepping into a puddle. Additionally, a 34-year-old individual slipped on a sidewalk in the Sariyer district, sustaining a fatal head injury. The body of a third victim was found near another park in the Kagithane district.
Following the deluge, vehicles were left scattered across Istanbul. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stated that over 2,700 individuals stranded by the floods had been successfully evacuated from various locations in the city. A woman was observed walking across a makeshift ladder placed over floodwaters in Istanbul.
Aerial footage captured trucks partially submerged on a flooded street in Istanbul, highlighting the extent of the damage caused by the heavy rainfall. Furthermore, a creek overflowed in Istanbul post the torrential downpour, as depicted in a social media video authenticated by Reuters.
The Turkish meteorological agency has forecasted additional showers for Istanbul and its adjacent areas in the upcoming days.
