At least three people have died after flash floods overwhelmed Istanbul, leaving thousands stranded and prompting a major rescue operation across Turkey’s largest city.
Torrential rain on Wednesday night turned roads into fast-flowing rivers and submerged homes and neighbourhoods. Four people remained missing on Thursday, officials said.
More than 2,700 people trapped by the flooding were evacuated, according to Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci. Emergency services received over 2,500 reports of weather-related incidents, including 1,277 floods and 15 landslides.
The victims included a 14-year-old who was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle at a park in the Fatih district. A 34-year-old died after slipping on a pavement in Sariyer and hitting their head, local media reported.
The governor’s office said a third victim was found near another park in the Kagithane district.
More than 800 homes, 280 businesses and 76 vehicles were affected by the Istanbul flash floods. Around 8,000 personnel, supported by almost 3,000 vehicles and construction machines, were deployed across the city.
Video footage showed passengers standing and crouching on bus seats as floodwater rose inside a vehicle. In another incident, bystanders pulled a person to safety after they were caught in a powerful current.
Cars were swept into one another along a debris-filled street, while sparks appeared to fly from what seemed to be an open roadworks trench as water poured into it.
Floodwater reached two hospitals and entered Haciosman metro station through the ceiling, forcing commuters to make their way through the inundated area.
In Sultangazi, a retaining wall at a primary school collapsed while pupils were inside their classrooms. No injuries were reported.
In Başakşehir, a torrent was seen rushing through a valley near the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. The Kagithane Stream also burst its banks, flooding streets, courtyards and historic sites in the surrounding district.
In Sakarya province, about 93 miles east of Istanbul, a two-storey house built on a riverbed collapsed during the floods. It was not immediately known whether anyone was inside.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said some areas had recorded their highest rainfall since 1985. The flooding also disrupted air travel, with 46 aircraft unable to land at airports in the city.
Further showers were forecast for Istanbul and surrounding areas, with rain expected to return on Friday morning.
The governor’s office extended the closure of schools through Friday, while some state employees were placed on leave on Thursday. Residents were advised to remain at home unless travel was essential, and motorcycles were barred from the roads.
