The torrential rain in Istanbul has led to dramatic scenes in numerous districts of the city since the early hours of the morning. In Ayazağa, in the north of the city, several parked vehicles were swept away by the water, whilst others crashed into buildings before coming to a halt; in some coastal areas, sea water even penetrated inland, whilst places such as the historic Grand Bazaar also suffered flooding, which caused chaos on the transport network, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights.
Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced that at least 43 aircraft that were unable to land at Istanbul Airport due to adverse weather conditions were diverted to other airports, both in Turkey and abroad, according to the Turkish newspaper Milliyet.
“A total of 43 aircraft that were unable to land at Istanbul Airport have been diverted to alternative airports, both domestic and international. Within the country, 16 were diverted to Ankara Airport of Esenboğa, 8 to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, 10 to Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir, 2 to Koca Seyit Airport in Balıkesir, 2 to Çanakkale Airport and 1 to Antalya Airport. Internationally, 1 aircraft was diverted to Tehran, 2 to Burgas (Bulgaria) and 1 to Athens”, the ministry said in a statement.
“At Sabiha Gökçen Airport, landings were temporarily suspended due to strong winds and wind shear, and take-offs were halted at 21:42. By 22:00, three aircraft had been diverted to Esenboğa Airport in Ankara. Landing and take-off operations at Sabiha Gökçen resumed at 22:02,” the ministry’s statement added.
Two dead in Istanbul floods
The Istanbul Governor’s Office reported the death of a minor identified as M.I., aged 14, who was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle in the Fatih district. The boy was taken to hospital unconscious but died despite the efforts of medical staff. The authorities have launched an investigation to establish what happened.
The second victim, identified as S.Y., aged 34, was attempting to cross the road when he slipped and hit his head on the pavement. Unable to get out of the water that had accumulated on the road, the victim was rescued by several members of the public and taken to hospital by the medical teams who arrived at the scene; however, he died in hospital despite attempts to save his life.
Vehicles swept away by the water and flooded streets
The rainfall, which affected the city throughout the day and intensified in the late afternoon, caused flooding in Ayazağa, in the district of Sarıyer, in particular.
The water level of the Alibey stream in Boğazköy also rose considerably. The stream burst its banks near a bridge and the water flooded a school playground. The level continued to rise and the school was submerged.
The rain caused water to pool on streets and roads in Sarıyer and Kağıthane. Several roads were flooded, hindering traffic flow and causing traffic jams that particularly affected motorcyclists, who faced significant difficulties getting around.
Many people caught out by the storm sought shelter at bus stops. The flooding in Istanbul affected numerous roads on both the European and Asian sides, bringing traffic to a standstill in some areas.
In Esenler, several parked cars were partially or completely submerged. Meanwhile, on the coast of Sarıyer, the sea water surged inland until the boundary between land and the shoreline had disappeared.
The rain also caused water to build up in underground stations and underpasses in Esenler, Zincirlikuyu and Topkapı.
Flooding in shopping centres and historic areas
The car park of a shopping centre in Sarıyer was flooded by the downpours, which submerged the area where the vehicles were parked.
In the same district, some passengers on a bus trapped by the flooding experienced moments of panic as water flooded the vehicle, leaving them trapped.
In Gaziosmanpaşa, the force of the rain brought down several trees, whilst on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge – the second bridge over the Bosphorus – several drivers tried to help motorcycle couriers who were having serious difficulty getting through due to the storm.
In Ayazağa, the flooding also caused a landslide on a nearby hillside. In the same neighbourhood, several parked cars were swept away by the current along a street.
Iconic sites such as the historic Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, both located in Fatih, were also affected by the flooding, with water accumulating in various areas of both markets. In Yenikapı, on the southern coast of the historic peninsula, a person in danger of drowning in a flooded underpass was rescued with the help of a construction machine.
Alert over further rain in Istanbul
The Governor of Istanbul, Davut Gül, urged citizens to take every precaution in the face of the heavy rainfall affecting the entire city and also warned that “The rain is expected to affect the whole province tonight and, in particular, the Asian side tomorrow (15 October)”.
Gül urged the public to stay at home unless it is an emergency and to avoid using private vehicles. The Governor of Istanbul also asked citizens not to stay in basements or areas prone to flooding, to stay away from flooded areas, stream beds and flooded underpasses, and to avoid areas and buildings at risk of landslides in the event of rain.
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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.
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