Istanbul Flooded by Heavy Rain, At Least 3 Dead
Officials report three deaths, hundreds rescued from stranded workplaces as downpour causes widespread flooding.
A heavy downpour has caused widespread flooding in Istanbul, leading to the deaths of at least three people and stranding hundreds more, officials said Thursday. The deluge on Wednesday night inundated homes, businesses, roads, and underpasses, causing significant traffic disruptions in Turkey's largest city.
The Istanbul governor's office reported three fatalities and four missing individuals. Among the confirmed deaths, a 14-year-old was electrocuted in the Fatih district after stepping into a puddle, and a 34-year-old died from a head injury after slipping on a sidewalk in Sariyer. The body of a third victim was found near a park in Kagithane.
More than 2,700 people who were trapped by the floods have been safely evacuated, according to Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality stated that some areas experienced the highest rainfall levels recorded since 1985.
Farther east, in Sakarya province, approximately 150 kilometers from Istanbul, a two-story house built on a riverbed collapsed due to the flooding, HaberTurk television reported. It remains unknown if anyone was inside the structure at the time of the collapse.
Turkey's meteorological agency has forecast additional showers for Istanbul and the surrounding region in the coming days.
In response to the severe weather, the governor's office extended a school closure order through Friday, and some state employees were placed on leave. Residents were advised to remain home unless travel was essential, and motorcycles were temporarily banned from the roads.