Floods leave at least 3 dead, over 2 700 evacuated in Istanbul, Türkiye

The Istanbul Governor’s Office said a 14-year-old died after being electrocuted when stepping into accumulated water in Balat. Local agency reporting said a 34-year-old died after slipping and striking his head while crossing a flooded road in Ayazağa.

A third body was recovered near a stream in Kağıthane on October 15, and identification work was continuing. Authorities also reported three people missing, while three others had been receiving hospital treatment without life-threatening injuries.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) said rain began on the morning of October 13. In an October 14 update, AKOM reported 50–95 mm (2.0–3.7 inches) across northern and central districts and 10–40 mm (0.4–1.6 inches) elsewhere.

Municipal teams responded to 1 901 reports, with 8 392 personnel and 2 246 vehicles and machines deployed. AFAD, firefighters, Coast Guard personnel and municipal teams used boats and heavy equipment to evacuate people trapped at businesses along Kemerburgaz Street in Ayazağa.

Flooding on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Street interrupted electricity service to homes and businesses, while teams searched inundated basement areas.

Çiftçi said emergency authorities had received 8 815 reports from Istanbul, of which 6 728 had been verified through the 112 Emergency Call Center. A total of 2 727 people stranded by flooding or water inundation had been evacuated, including those affected in Ayazağa.

The multiagency response involved 46 597 personnel, including 8 597 search-and-rescue personnel, supported by 2 288 vehicles and 14 boats. Additional teams and equipment were dispatched from Afyonkarahisar, Tokat, Muğla and Kütahya.

At an earlier briefing, Governor Davut Gül said operations were continuing at 14 locations and 16 roads remained closed. He reported that 51 flights at Istanbul Airport had been diverted and 19 canceled, including seven arrivals and 12 departures.

The Istanbul Governor’s Office suspended face-to-face education at public and private educational institutions on October 15. Gül subsequently extended the school closure through October 16 while inspections continued for electrical and other safety hazards.

Administrative leave for specified public employees was also extended. Motorcycles and similar two-wheeled vehicles remained prohibited from entering traffic under a restriction introduced at 21:00 LT (18:00 UTC) on October 14 and effective until further notice.

Gül reported 261 mm (10.3 inches) of rainfall at Beykoz. Çiftçi later said rainfall had reached 272 mm (10.7 inches) in parts of Istanbul, but his statement did not identify the observing site or accumulation period.

Meteorological General Directorate forecast No. 1150, valid from 06:00 LT (03:00 UTC) on October 15 to 06:00 LT (03:00 UTC) on October 16, called for very heavy to severe and locally extreme rainfall over Istanbul’s Asian side and eastern Marmara.

MGM forecast 51–75 mm (2.0–3.0 inches), locally 51–100 mm (2.0–3.9 inches) over 12 hours, and warned of flooding, inundation and transport disruption. Northerly winds were forecast at 40–60 km/h (25–37 mph), reaching 70–80 km/h (43–50 mph) at times.

References:

¹ Death toll in Istanbul floods rises to 3 – TRT Haber – October 15, 2026

² Istanbul Regional Forecast and Warning Center – Forecast No. 1150 – Meteorological General Directorate – October 15, 2026

³ Press statement – Istanbul Governor’s Office / Provincial Directorate of National Education – October 14, 2026