Istanbul Suffers Deadly Flooding After Rare 84‑Year Rain Burst
Fatal Flooding in Istanbul. Two people died after the city experienced the heaviest rainfall in 84 years, according to the governor, Davut Gül. A 14‑year‑old boy was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle, and a 34‑year‑old man slipped while crossing a road, striking his head on the pavement.
Nearly 600 residents were rescued, with authorities saying cars were submerged in several districts. The deputy mayor said 595 people were evacuated to safer areas, and more than 8,000 workers were deployed to combat the emergency.
Governors urged citizens to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. The heavy rain is expected to continue, prompting school closures on Thursday and Friday. The interior minister noted that some city areas received rainfall equal to one‑seventh of the annual average.
Public transport was promoted over private vehicles; the metro’s operating hours were extended to 2:00 a.m. to accommodate commuters. Air travel suffered as 46 planes could not land at Istanbul airports.
Public sector employees who are disabled, pregnant or veterans were granted administrative leave, except those in health, safety and drainage. Women in the public sector with children under eight also received leave. The reaction highlights the scale of the crisis and underscores the need for coordinated disaster response across the metropolitan area, which houses over 16 million people.
