World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Heavy rain floods Istanbul’s Ayazağa, prompting searches and relief work
Heavy rain caused severe flooding in Ayazağa, a district of Istanbul, after rainfall described by officials as the city’s highest in 83 years.
Authorities say about 273 kilograms of rain fell, though the reports do not clarify the measurement area.
Turkey’s environment minister Murat Kurum and interior minister Mustafa Çiftçi visited the affected area, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Kurum by phone.
Search teams are looking for missing people, and officials say food and water are being provided through the disaster agency AFAD.
Residents who must leave buildings are to be moved to temporary accommodation, and officials said there was no urgent shortage at the time of the call.
Officials linked the flooding to weak infrastructure and a covered stream channel, alongside unplanned development.
They plan to clear the damage and pursue lasting fixes, including completing stream rehabilitation work in Ayazağa and nearby Cendere.
Heavy rain caused flooding in Istanbul’s Ayazağa district, where authorities said search and relief work was under way.
Environment Minister Murat Kurum said Istanbul received its highest rainfall in 83 years, with about 273 kilograms of rain falling.
Search teams were looking for missing people, while authorities coordinated food, water and other assistance.
Kurum said many buildings’ lower floors were flooded and cited inadequate infrastructure, a covered stream channel and unplanned settlement as contributing problems.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi and Kurum visited the affected area, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received an update from Kurum by phone.
- Who
- Residents of Ayazağa were affected; authorities, including ministers and AFAD-coordinated teams, were responding.
- What
- Heavy rain caused flooding, prompting searches for missing people and relief work.
- When
- The reports were published on October 16 and 17, 2026. The exact time the flooding began is not stated.
- Where
- Ayazağa, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Why
- Kurum cited intense rainfall and said inadequate infrastructure, a covered stream channel and unplanned settlement contributed to flooding.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ministers Murat Kurum and Mustafa Çiftçi visited flood-hit Ayazağa as search and relief work continued.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Kurum and received an update on the response.
- Rainfall
- About 273 kilograms, according to Murat Kurum
- Rainfall record
- Highest in Istanbul in 83 years, according to Kurum
- Affected district
- Ayazağa, Istanbul
- Missing people
- Search operations were under way
- Relief coordination
- AFAD coordinated searches and the provision of food and water
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What people are saying
Kayıp vatandaşlarımız için arama faaliyetleri sürüyor.
Hiçbir vatandaşımızın mağdur olmayacağı bir çözümü ortaya koyacağız.
83 yılın en yüksek yağışının alındığı, şu ana kadar yaklaşık 273 kilogram yağışın düştüğü büyük bir afetten bahsediyoruz.
Çalışıyoruz ve bir an önce de bu afetten inşallah kurtulacağız