Torrential rain and strong winds hit Istanbul on Oct. 14, killing two people, flooding streets, underpasses and metro stations and prompting the governor’s office to close all schools in the city on Oct. 15.
A 14-year-old boy died after being electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle at a park in the Fatih district, and a 34-year-old man died in hospital after slipping in floodwater and hitting his head in Sarıyer, NTV reported. Investigations were opened into both deaths.
Data from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality showed 242 kilograms per square metre of rain in Beykoz, described as one of the highest readings since 1985, with 190.5 in Eyüpsultan and 187.9 in Sarıyer. Totals of 100 to 230 were recorded around the Bosphorus and across the northern and central parts of the European side.
Thousands of calls, cars swept away
The Istanbul Governor’s Office said emergency lines received 2,518 calls between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., including 1,277 flooding reports, 47 cases of people trapped and 15 landslides. About 8,000 personnel and 2,000 vehicles and work machines were deployed.
Cars were submerged in underpasses in Bahçelievler and Sultangazi, residents were evacuated from flooded basement flats, and a city bus was stranded by floodwater. Traffic congestion peaked at 89%.
Face-to-face classes at all public and private schools in Istanbul were suspended for Oct. 15, and motorcycles and similar two-wheeled vehicles were banned from traffic from 9 p.m. on Oct. 14 until further notice. NTV reported that schools were closed in six provinces in total.
Air travel disrupted
The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said 43 aircraft that could not land at Istanbul Airport were diverted, 39 to domestic airports, including 16 to Ankara Esenboğa and 10 to İzmir, and four abroad, to Burgas, Tehran and Athens. At Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side, wind shear briefly halted landings and departures before operations resumed shortly after 10 p.m.
More rain forecast
The Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) had issued yellow warnings for 15 provinces, including Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya and Muğla, and orange warnings, meaning dangerous conditions with possible damage, for Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova.
The governor’s office said showers would continue on Oct. 15, especially on the Asian side in Pendik, Tuzla and Şile, with thunderstorms on Oct. 16 and intermittent rain on Oct. 17. Temperatures are expected to fall 4-6 degrees Celsius below seasonal norms.
Residents were urged to stay home unless necessary, move people living in basements to upper floors and avoid stream beds and underpasses. Visitors should check flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport.
Sources
- İstanbul’u sağanak ve fırtına vurdu. 2 kişi hayatını kaybetti (NTV)
- 43 uçak İstanbul Havalimanı’na inemedi (NTV)
- Meteoroloji saat verdi: Sağanak yağış ve fırtına etkili olacak! (Hürriyet)
Photo: ALTUGD / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
