World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Heavy rain floods roads and disrupts traffic in Istanbul
Heavy rain and strong winds hit Istanbul on Wednesday, flooding roads and disrupting daily life across the city.
The downpour began on Tuesday, and the city’s disaster coordination centre said some districts had already received 50 to 95 kilograms of rain per square metre.
Floodwater filled roads and underpasses, leaving some vehicles stranded and making travel difficult in areas including Esenyurt, Sultangazi and Beykoz.
A woman swept along by floodwater in Esenyurt was rescued, and a person trapped in a flooded basement in Küçükçekmece was also brought to safety.
A school retaining wall collapsed while students were in class, but the schoolyard was empty at the time.
Forecasters warned of stronger rain and winds, with the heaviest conditions expected to shift from the European side to the Asian side of Istanbul later in the day.
Traffic congestion reached 74 percent at 4 p.m., while heavy showers were forecast to continue over the following days.
Heavy rain and storms flooded roads and disrupted traffic across Istanbul on October 14.
AKOM said rainfall and storm conditions were expected to intensify, with heavy rain forecast in parts of the city.
Some districts recorded 50 to 95 kilograms of rain per square metre, according to AKOM.
Flooding left vehicles stranded, inundated a metro station and forced the rescue of people trapped by rising water.
Traffic congestion in Istanbul reached 74 percent at 16:00, Milliyet reported.
- Who
- Residents, commuters and drivers in Istanbul were affected; emergency teams carried out rescues.
- What
- Heavy rain flooded roads and disrupted traffic, leaving some vehicles stranded.
- When
- The rain began on October 13 and continued on October 14.
- Where
- Istanbul, including districts such as Avcılar, Beykoz, Esenyurt and Sultangazi.
- Why
- Heavy rain and storms caused flooding. AKOM said the conditions were expected to intensify.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Heavy rain and storms began in Istanbul, according to AKOM.
Rain caused flooding in several districts, including Esenyurt and Küçükçekmece.
AKOM reported 50 to 95 kilograms of rain per square metre in seven districts.
Traffic congestion in Istanbul was measured at 74 percent.
- Rainfall recorded
- 50 to 95 kilograms per square metre in seven districts, according to AKOM
- Traffic congestion
- 74 percent at 16:00 on October 14
- Districts named by AKOM
- Beykoz, Sarıyer, Eyüpsultan, Arnavutköy, Başakşehir, Sultangazi and Büyükçekmece
- Rescued person
- A person trapped in a flooded basement in Küçükçekmece was rescued
- Flooded metro station
- Hacıosman###
3 sources
What people are saying
Those outside should go home early.
In the coming hours, rainfall is expected to intensify, with heavy and locally severe rain passing across the European side and around the Bosphorus on the Asian side until evening, and across the Asian side generally from the evening onward, accompanied by storms.