Istanbul Floods Kill Three People

The rain over Istanbul did not stop — and then the streets started to disappear. Cars were dragged along by muddy water, people were pulled to safety through first-floor windows, and by Thursday the city was counting its dead: three people killed, several still missing, and thousands forced out of flooded homes and workplaces.

Istanbul is Türkiye’s largest city, home to about 16 million people. This week it faced what officials called its heaviest rainfall in at least 80 years.

How the flood took over the city

The rain began on Tuesday and grew stronger through Wednesday, 14 October. Water filled roads and underpasses, poured into homes, shops and basements, and left vehicles stranded across many districts, including Esenyurt and Sultangazi.

By Wednesday nightfall, Türkiye’s AFAD disaster agency had recorded 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, 47 people stranded and two roofs blown off, and it set up a crisis desk to manage the emergency. Floodwater also reached two hospitals and poured through the ceiling of a metro station, according to reports from the city.

Some workers trapped at flooded workplaces had to be carried out with boats and heavy machinery during overnight rescue operations, the Istanbul Governor’s Office said.

The three lives that were lost

Officials confirmed three deaths on Thursday. In the Balat area, a 14-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle. He was taken to hospital, but doctors could not save him.

Local media reported that a 34-year-old also died after slipping on a flooded sidewalk in the Sarıyer district and striking their head. Search teams then found a man’s body near Sadabad Park in the Kağıthane district, close to a stream that had overflowed. Work to identify him was still going on.

The governor’s office said four people were still missing in Istanbul, while later agency reporting put the number of missing at five. Search work continued on Thursday.

A record written in rain

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said the city had received its highest level of rainfall since records began in 1942. In Beykoz, on the Asian side of the city, 269.5 millimetres of rain were recorded between midnight on Tuesday and 7:30 on Thursday morning, according to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s disaster coordination centre.

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said 2,727 people had been evacuated across the city. Around 8,000 personnel, along with about 2,000 vehicles and machines, were sent out to deal with the flooding, Turkish media reported.

Flights diverted and schools closed

The storm also hit travel. Forty-three flights bound for Istanbul Airport had to be diverted on Wednesday, as did three flights heading for Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side, which temporarily suspended take-offs because of strong winds, the transport ministry said.

Authorities closed schools across Istanbul on Thursday and Friday and urged people to stay at home unless travel was absolutely necessary. Residents of basement apartments were advised to spend the night on higher floors. Parts of the city, notably Sarıyer, also lost power and water supplies, and shopkeepers there were seen trying to save their goods from the mud.

On Thursday, municipal teams and firefighters worked across the city, pumping water out of schools, garages and sports grounds and clearing streets covered in mud.

The flooding spread beyond Istanbul

Heavy rain also flooded parts of the nearby provinces. In Sakarya, a two-storey house built on the banks of a stream collapsed in the Sapanca area. The house had been evacuated earlier, so no one was killed or injured.

In the neighbouring Kocaeli province, a stream overflowed in the Gebze district and swept away a driver, who was later rescued by emergency workers using ropes.

More heavy rain has been forecast for Istanbul and the surrounding region over the weekend, which means the cleanup — and the search for the missing — is not over yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people died in the Istanbul floods? Three people have been confirmed dead: a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted in the Balat area, a 34-year-old who fell on a flooded sidewalk in Sarıyer, and a man whose body was found near Sadabad Park in Kağıthane.

How many people are still missing? At least four. The Istanbul Governor’s Office reported four people missing in the city on Thursday, while later agency reports put the number at five.

Why is this rainfall being called historic? Governor Davut Gül said it was the highest level of rainfall Istanbul has recorded since records began in 1942. Beykoz alone received 269.5 millimetres between Tuesday midnight and Thursday morning.

Are schools and flights affected? Yes. Schools in Istanbul were closed on Thursday and Friday, dozens of flights were diverted on Wednesday, and Sabiha Gökçen Airport temporarily suspended take-offs.

Is more rain coming? Yes. Forecasters expect heavy rain to continue over the weekend, and officials have warned residents to stay away from flooded roads and riverbanks.