A sudden downpour on Wednesday turned Istanbul’s streets into rivers in what officials are calling the city’s worst flash flood since 1985. The heavy rain overwhelmed the aging storm‑water system, collapsing roads and drowning a 16‑year‑old boy.
Rain began in the early afternoon and quickly surged into underpasses, basements and major thoroughfares, stranding vehicles and sweeping away parked cars. Hospitals reported water entering lower levels, complicating patient care. Bystanders rescued a woman from a street torrent and firefighters pulled a man from a flooded basement, but the teenager died when a road gave way under the force of the water.
The governor’s office issued emergency directives as floodwaters rose. All schools were ordered to close on Thursday, affecting tens of thousands of students and staff. Motorcycles, a common commuter vehicle, were prohibited to reduce the risk of accidents on slick surfaces. Public‑sector employees with disabilities or caring for young children were placed on leave to limit exposure to hazardous conditions.
Commercial districts saw storefronts inundated, damaging inventory and forcing businesses to suspend operations. Key arteries were blocked, delaying deliveries and raising costs for merchants. Residents of flood‑prone neighborhoods, especially those in basement apartments, faced immediate threats to safety and property, prompting many to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.
Officials have not reported serious injuries beyond the teenage fatality. However, the event highlights Istanbul’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Experts note that the lack of precise rainfall measurements hampers a full assessment, but the comparison to the 1985 storm suggests a rare intensity.
In response, city officials said a task force will convene within the week to evaluate the flood’s impact and draft a plan to upgrade storm‑water channels and improve early‑warning systems. The review will determine how Istanbul can better protect its 16 million residents from similar events in the future.