In Istanbul, four people lost their lives following heavy downpours yesterday (October 14), with approximately 242 kilograms of rain recorded per square meter. As the rainfall flooded streets, homes, and transportation networks, schools across the province closed on Thursday, October 15.
Photo: Rûdaw
Heavy rainfall that began in Istanbul yesterday afternoon (October 14) caused significant disruptions across many areas. Due to the adverse weather conditions, some public transport services were cancelled, while numerous streets and neighborhoods experienced flooding. Footage showing rainwater gushing like a flood circulated on social media.
In statements released today (October 15) on its social media account, Metro Istanbul announced that services on the T3 Kadıköy-Moda Tram Line, T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar Tram Line, and M9 Ataköy-Olimpiyat Metro Line, which had been suspended due to adverse weather conditions, have returned to normal.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) reported that during yesterday’s rainfall, some areas of the city, such as Beykoz, received 242 kilograms of precipitation per square meter, one of the highest levels recorded since 1985. According to the IBB, the rainfall prompted the municipality’s various departments to file a total of 6,937 reports.
According to the weather report issued by the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) for October 15, intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected in many provinces, including Istanbul. The report further notes that winds in the Marmara region are forecast to blow strongly, reaching storm force (50–80 km/h), from the north and northeast, and it includes a warning to “remain cautious and take necessary precautions against potential adverse events, such as the blowing off of roofs, the uprooting of trees, and disruptions to transportation.”
According to the MGM, the provinces categorized under the “orange” alert level, indicating dangerous weather conditions, are Kocaeli, Düzce, Zonguldak, Sakarya, Yalova, and Bursa; meanwhile, Adana, Adıyaman, Ağrı, Amasya, Ankara, Balıkesir, Bingöl, Bitlis, Bolu, Çanakkale, Çankırı, Çorum, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Elâzığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Hakkâri, Hatay, Mersin, İstanbul, İzmir, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kırklareli, Malatya, Manisa, Maraş, Mardin, Muş, Siirt, Sinop, Sivas, Tekirdağ, Dersim, Van, Bayburt, Batman, Şırnak, Bartın, Karabük, Osmaniye, and Düzce are listed under the “yellow” alert code.
Governor’s Office: 1,277 instances of flooding, 15 landslides
According to a statement issued by the Istanbul Governor’s Office yesterday evening at 20:19, extraordinary rainfall that persisted from 06:00 to 20:00 caused 1,277 flooding incidents. Additionally, the city recorded 15 landslides, 47 cases of people becoming stranded, 13 instances of fallen trees, and 2 cases of roofs being blown off. Reports also concerned 808 residences, 280 workplaces, and 76 vehicles. The statement further noted that 2,518 reports in total were relayed to the relevant emergency response teams.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül warned citizens to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. He also urged those living in basement-level dwellings to “spend the night in safer, higher-level areas” and cautioned everyone to stay away from stream beds, underpasses, and any flood-prone areas.
The rainfall was particularly intense on the European side of Istanbul. According to data from the Governor’s Office, 193.84 kilograms of rain per square meter was recorded in Beykoz-Ömerli, 125.9 kilograms in Arnavutköy, 124.72 kilograms at the Sarıyer-İTÜ Maslak station, 75.2 kilograms in Çatalca, 14.3 kilograms in Kartal, and 6.8 kilograms in Bakırköy.
4 people lost their lives
In Çukurbostan Park, located in the Balat neighborhood of Istanbul’s Fatih district, a 14-year-old child suffered an electric shock after stepping into a puddle formed by rainwater.
According to a written statement from the Istanbul Governor’s Office, the child identified as M.I. was struck by an electric current the moment he stepped into the puddle and subsequently lost consciousness; he was rushed to the hospital. The statement reported that, despite all medical interventions, the 14-year-old could not be saved and passed away.
Separately, in the Sarıyer district, 34-year-old S.Y. was attempting to cross the road in front of a guesthouse on Dereboyu Street when he slipped and fell, striking his head against the curb. Emergency medical teams arrived at the scene and transported S.Y. to the Seyrantepe Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital. Despite all medical efforts, S.Y. passed away while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Following the heavy rain, the lifeless body of a man estimated to be in his 40s was recovered from the Kağıthane Stream.
In Beykoz, construction worker Faik Şentürk, who was working to drain floodwaters that had accumulated at the Firuz Bey Elementary School construction site, a project undertaken by Beyoğlu Construction, fell into a well. The worker was taken to the hospital but died despite all efforts to save him.
Floodwaters disrupt transport, leaving citizens stranded in the streets
Heavy rain and storms that persisted throughout the day in Istanbul caused significant disruptions to transportation. Many transit routes were flooded, leaving citizens in difficult situations. In the Ayazağa neighborhood of Sarıyer, people became trapped by floodwaters. In the same district, an IETT bus filled with water, leaving passengers stranded inside. Additionally, a tree fell on İstinye Bayırı in Sarıyer.
In the Beyoğlu and Esenyurt districts, a person swept away by floodwaters was rescued with the help of others.
Due to the downpour, streets and avenues across many districts were flooded, leading to the closure of roads, underpasses, and tunnels. Vehicles were swept away by floodwaters, homes and businesses were inundated, and individuals who became trapped were rescued with the aid of heavy machinery (excavators). In Beykoz, two people were injured when a garden wall collapsed.
In front of the Eyüpsultan Municipality building, a road collapse led to the closure of Eyüpsultan Boulevard to traffic. Meanwhile, in the Arnavutköy district, citizens attempting to return home found themselves stranded due to the flooding.
Schools have been closed
The Istanbul Governor’s Office has announced that in-person education in all public and private educational institutions across the city will be suspended for one day on Thursday, October 15.
The Governor’s Office further stated that pregnant employees and employees with disabilities working in public institutions, as well as veterans and female employees with children under the age of eight (under certain conditions), will be granted administrative leave.
Additionally, the use of motorcycles and similar two-wheeled vehicles on the road has been prohibited, effective from 9:00 PM on October 14, until further notice.
In addition to Istanbul, education has also been suspended for one day today in Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova, Düzce, and Zonguldak.
46 aircraft were unable to land
According to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, weather conditions prevented 46 aircraft from landing at their intended airports yesterday. The Ministry reported that 43 planes that could not land at Istanbul Airport and 3 planes that could not land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport were diverted to alternative airports as a result of the adverse weather.
