Istanbul Records Two Deaths, Widespread Flooding After Heaviest Rainfall in 84 Years

Istanbul experienced its most significant rainfall in 84 years, leading to two confirmed deaths and widespread disruption across the metropolis. City Governor Davut Gül confirmed the fatalities as emergency services responded to numerous incidents of flooding.

Authorities issued urgent directives for residents to avoid unnecessary travel, with public transport services significantly affected. Images circulated online depicted submerged vehicles and torrents of water flowing through streets, particularly impacting the Küçükçekmece and Başakşehir districts.

The extreme weather event follows similar severe flooding in other parts of Türkiye, including the Black Sea region, earlier this year. Such incidents underscore the infrastructure challenges faced by rapidly expanding urban centres in the context of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.