In brief
Istanbul is enduring its worst rainstorm in eight and a half decades, with water levels turning streets into rivers and threatening the lives of over 16 million residents. Two people died – a boy was electrocuted in a puddle and a man suffered a fatal head injury after slipping on slick roads. City officials have ordered school closures, evacuated nearly 600 people and urged residents to stay home or use public transport, as the metro service ran overnight to aid evacuation. The flooding has also disrupted air traffic, leaving 46 planes off‑schedule, and the government is coordinating a massive emergency response to manage the crisis.
Istanbul is battling a once‑in‑eight‑half‑century deluge that has flooded streets, submerged cars and trapped thousands of people in the city’s sprawling districts.
Governors Davut Gül and deputy mayor Nuri Aslan reported that two fatalities occurred – a 14‑year‑old boy was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle, while a 34‑year‑old man suffered a fatal head injury after slipping and falling on a slick road.
Nearly 600 residents were rescued after becoming stranded; the city’s emergency teams worked around the clock to evacuate 595 people to safe zones, with more than 8,000 workers deployed on the front lines.
The governor issued a directive urging residents to avoid leaving their homes except in emergencies. Schools were closed for the next two days and the metro’s operating hours were extended to 2:00 a.m. to help citizens reach safer areas.
The flooding has also disrupted air travel: 46 planes were unable to land at Istanbul airports. Local media reported that a shopping‑centre car park in Sariyer was flooded with submerged vehicles, several road sections collapsed and a river burst its banks.
Officials warn that additional flooding could occur in nearby provinces; the interior ministry has also called for administrative leave for disabled, pregnant or veteran workers, and women in the public sector with children under eight.
As rain is expected to continue, emergency services remain on high alert. Residents are advised to stay informed via official social‑media channels and to use public transport to reduce traffic and minimize the risk of injury.
