Heavy rain reached Istanbul in the early hours of Tuesday, flooding streets in parts of the Asian side and forcing sea-bus operators İDO and BUDO to cancel several morning sailings across the Sea of Marmara.
İDO cancelled its 07:45 Bandırma–Yenikapı–Kadıköy service, its 08:30 Bursa–Armutlu–Yenikapı–Kadıköy service and its 09:05 Kabataş–Kadıköy–Yenikapı–Armutlu–Bursa service, NTV reported, citing bad weather. BUDO, which is run by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, also cancelled sailings between Mudanya, Armutlu and Kabataş in Istanbul. Passengers travelling between Istanbul and Bursa should check the operators’ websites or apps before leaving.
Flooded roads on the Asian side
Tuzla and Pendik got some of the heaviest overnight rain, Aksiyon reported. Water collected on streets and in several underpasses, in places reaching the underside of cars, and some vehicles were stranded during the night and early morning. Aksiyon also reported that the downpour slowed the morning commute and school runs.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office and AKOM, the city’s disaster coordination centre, said 21–50 kg/m² of rain was expected across the city, rising to 21–75 kg/m² in Arnavutköy, Sarıyer, Beykoz, Eyüp and Şile. AKOM said the strongest showers were likely in Eyüpsultan, Sarıyer, Beykoz and Şile between 06:00 and 12:00, with winds picking up during the morning and temperatures falling by 5–7 degrees. Officials urged people to use public transport. The national weather service (MGM) has a yellow warning in force for Istanbul and 10 other provinces, as reported here on Monday. No school closure had been announced for Istanbul by Tuesday morning.
Excavation wall collapse in Bahçelievler
In Bahçelievler, on the European side, the retaining wall at a building site where foundations were being dug collapsed overnight in the Siyavuşpaşa neighbourhood, NTV reported, citing DHA. The garden walls of two neighbouring buildings of six and seven storeys also came down. Residents ran outside, and 20 flats were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported. Police, fire crews and municipal officers closed the street, and detailed checks on the buildings were due to begin on Tuesday morning. The cause of the collapse was not stated.
A recent building collapse in Maltepe killed five people. Buyers and tenants near active sites can ask the district municipality about the building permit and whether the excavation has been inspected. Our guide to living in Istanbul has more on local services.
Sources
- İDO ve BUDO’dan sefer iptalleri (NTV)
- İstanbul için sel alarmı: Sabah saatlerine dikkat (NTV)
- Anadolu Yakası’nda gece yağmuru Tuzla ve Pendik’te yolları göle çevirdi (Aksiyon)
- Bahçelievler’de inşaatın istinat duvarı yıkıldı, 2 bina tahliye edildi (NTV)
Photo: Jürgen Luger / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
