An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 15, 2026 shows a flooded area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
ISTANBUL, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday.
According to the Istanbul Governor's Office, a 14-year-old boy was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle in the Balat neighborhood of Fatih district. In a separate incident in Sariyer district, a 34-year-old pedestrian was killed after slipping in floodwaters while crossing a street.
The downpour began on Wednesday morning and intensified in the evening, hitting the city's European side particularly hard and severely disrupting transport.
Floodwaters inundated major roads and submerged vehicles, prompting emergency crews to use excavators to rescue stranded commuters. Traffic ground to a halt, with congestion nearing 100 percent and leaving many residents stranded for hours.
Preliminary data from the governor's office showed nearly 1,300 flooding incidents across the city, with floodwaters inundating more than 800 homes and 280 businesses. Emergency teams also responded to 47 incidents involving people stranded by rising waters.
The severe weather also disrupted operations at Istanbul's two main airports, Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. Heavy rain and strong winds forced numerous incoming flights to abort landings and divert to other airports, reported the Hurriyet Daily, an English-language daily in Türkiye.
The governor's office banned motorcycles and other two-wheeled vehicles from the city's roads from Wednesday evening until further notice. With heavy rain expected to continue through Thursday, authorities suspended classes across the city and urged residents to avoid going out unless necessary. ■
An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 15, 2026 shows a flooded area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 15, 2026 shows a flooded area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 15, 2026 shows a flooded area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
An engineering vehicle carrying rescue workers enters a flood-hit area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 15, 2026. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
An engineering vehicle transfers flood-affected residents to a safe area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 15, 2026. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
A rescue boat is seen on a flooded road in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 15, 2026. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
A road maintenance worker works on a flooded road in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 15, 2026. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2026 shows a view of a flooded area in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
Vehicles are stranded on a road in Sariyer district, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 15, 2026. Two people died in Istanbul after torrential rain triggered flash floods, with rainfall reaching nearly 200 kg per square meter, authorities said Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
