A torrential downpour brought Istanbul to a standstill, flooding homes and roadways and claiming at least two lives. Emergency crews labored through the night to rescue hundreds stranded at workplaces, while ordinary citizens assisted countless others.
The deluge Wednesday night inundated residences, businesses, streets, and underpasses, abandoning vehicles and plunging Turkey’s largest metropolis into traffic gridlock.
Local outlets confirmed two fatalities. A 14-year-old was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle at a park in the Fatih district, while a 34-year-old suffered a fatal head injury after slipping on a sidewalk in the Sarıyer district.
Heavy precipitation persisted into Thursday morning.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality reported that certain districts recorded their highest rainfall totals since 1985.
The governor’s office announced the suspension of classes Thursday and granted administrative leave to some public employees. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors unless travel was essential and advised those in basement apartments to seek alternative shelter for the night.
Additionally, motorcycles were prohibited from city streets.
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