Two people have died after severe flooding caused by what the governor of Istanbul said was the heaviest rainfall in 84 years, BBC Turkish has reported.
A14-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted when he stepped in a puddle, while a 34-year-old man attempting to cross the road slipped and fell, hitting his head on the pavement.
Nearly 600 people have been rescued after becoming stranded, the city’s deputy mayor said, with cars submerged in water in some districts.
Residents have been told by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary.
The city’s governorship is investigating the death of the teenaged boy who was electrocuted.
Some areas of Istanbul have seen rainfall equivalent to one seventh of the annual average, according to the interior minister. Schools were ordered to close on Thursday and Friday, as the rain is expected to continue.
Nuri Aslan, deputy mayor of the city, said 595 people had been evacuated to safe areas after becoming trapped, while more than 8,000 workers were responding to the flooding.
“I urge all our citizens to remain vigilant against the expected heavy rain and storm, particularly during nighttime hours,” he wrote on X.
He told people to use public transport instead of private vehicles, with the city’s metro hours expanded to 02:00 local time.
The flooding also impacted air travel, with 46 planes unable to land at airports in Istanbul, BBC Turkish said.
A car park in a shopping centre was flooded in the Sariyer district, with multiple vehicles submerged. Sections of roads in other areas collapsed, according to local media, and a river has burst its banks.
More than 16 million people live in the broader Istanbul metropolitan area. The interior ministry has also warned of sudden flooding in several provinces.
In response, employees who are disabled, pregnant or veterans will be granted administrative leave on Thursday, unless they work in health, safety, and rainwater drainage fields, Turkish media reported. Women working in the public sector who have children under the age of eight will also be granted leave.
