A severe rainfall in Istanbul has caused widespread flooding, resulting in road closures, damaged homes, and a tragic loss of at least three lives, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The intense downpour on Wednesday submerged houses, shops, and streets, leading to traffic disruptions and chaos in Turkey’s largest city.
In one incident, a car owner was seen searching for his vehicle swept away by the flood in Istanbul’s Ayazağa district. The Istanbul governor’s office reported three fatalities and four individuals missing following the disaster.
Reports indicated that a 14-year-old was fatally electrocuted in a park in the Fatih district after stepping into a puddle. Additionally, a 34-year-old slipped on a sidewalk in the Sariyer district and suffered a fatal head injury. The body of a third victim was found near a park in the Kagithane district.
Efforts to rescue stranded individuals were successful, with over 2,700 people safely evacuated across the city, according to Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi. Aerial views captured the aftermath of the rainfall, showing submerged trucks on flooded streets in Istanbul.
Despite the current situation, Turkey’s meteorological agency has warned of more showers expected in Istanbul and its vicinity in the upcoming days.