Heavy rain caused flooding in Istanbul today, blocking roads and underpasses, leaving vehicles stranded and bringing traffic to a standstill in some parts of the Turkish metropolis. Although the rainfall was less severe than that recorded two weeks ago, when widespread flooding caused chaos and left several people dead, the storm was accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures and gusts of wind reaching up to 70 km/h.
Following the rain, which began last night and intensified early this morning, the effects were felt throughout the day in districts of Istanbul such as Pendik, where several people had to help a father and his daughter out of their car after they became trapped in a flooded underpass in the Çamçeşme neighbourhood, whilst the driver was trying to take his daughter to university.
Flooded streets and roads in Şile
The heavy rainfall also severely disrupted daily life in Şile, to the north of the city, an area that had already been particularly hard hit during the severe floods in Istanbul earlier this month and where the roads were once again submerged today. The water, which turned streets and roads into rivers and lakes, swept away goods that several shops had displayed outside, reported the Turkish news agency DHA.
The rising water levels in the Yeniköy and Pot rivers, alongside the road linking Şile with the Asian district of Üsküdar, caused traffic disruption, and several streets and roads affected by the flooding were closed to traffic.
The water even damaged the tarmac on some roads, whilst debris from wooded areas, swept along by the water – including fragments of trees, stones and mud – washed down onto the roads and blocked numerous sections, sweeping vehicles along with it.
Traffic congestion in Istanbul reaches 80% due to the rain
Due to the rain, traffic congestion reached 80% in Istanbul, with significant hold-ups on the 15 July Martyrs’ Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, two of the most important bridges that span the Bosphorus, connecting the Asian and European sides of the city. In addition, ferry operators such as BUDO and İDO were forced to cancel more than a dozen ferry services.
According to data from the Istanbul Disaster Coordination Centre (AKOM), wind gusts reached 70 km/h and temperatures dropped to between 5 and 7 °C. The rain and wind are expected to continue for the rest of the week, albeit with lower intensity and a reduced risk of floods, whilst maximum temperatures will not exceed 16 °C.
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
