Istanbul flash floods kill three amid 84-year rainfall record

Three people died in Istanbul on October 14–15 following torrential rainfall that delivered up to 272 kilograms of precipitation per square meter in some areas—the heaviest downpour in 84 years, equivalent to roughly one-seventh of the city's annual rainfall. A 14-year-old boy was electrocuted after stepping into floodwater in the Fatih district. A 34-year-old pedestrian died after slipping on a sidewalk in Sarıyer. Search efforts uncovered a third body in the Kağıthane district, identified as a man in his 40s, prompting a police investigation.

The deluge, which began on the evening of October 14, triggered over 1,000 flooding incidents across the city, inundating more than 800 homes and 280 businesses. Floodwaters submerged major roads and vehicles, paralyzing traffic with congestion reaching 89–100 percent and stranding commuters for hours. Emergency crews deployed excavators and front-end loaders to rescue residents, including approximately 30 workers trapped overnight at a concrete plant in Sarıyer. The Istanbul Municipality mobilized 8,392 personnel and 2,246 vehicles to respond to weather-related incidents. The Kağıthane stream overflowed, and municipal teams rescued stray animals and people stranded near metro stations.

The extreme weather disrupted critical infrastructure and transportation across the city. Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport suspended operations, with 46 aircraft unable to land or diverting to other airports. Overcrowding at metro, metrobüs, tram, and bus stations forced residents to rely on public transport as authorities banned motorcycles and two-wheeled vehicles from roads. Wind speeds reached 75–80 kilometers per hour, bringing storm conditions to both the European and Asian sides of the city.

Authorities suspended classes across Istanbul on October 15 and extended the closure through October 16, with Istanbul Governor Davut Gül announcing schools would remain closed as rainfall was expected to continue for two to three more days through October 17. Meteorologist Mikdat Kadıoğlu warned that further precipitation, even at lower levels, could trigger additional serious flooding due to ground saturation. Residents were urged to remain at home unless travel was absolutely necessary, and those in basement apartments were advised to seek shelter elsewhere. The downpour's impact was visible along the Bosphorus on October 15 morning, where runoff from swollen streams turned sections of coastal waters brown, extending roughly 200 meters from the shoreline in some areas.