Two dead in Istanbul after heaviest rainfall in 84 years, governor says

Two individuals have died after severe flooding caused by what the governor of Istanbul stated was the heaviest rainfall in 84 years, BBC Turkish has documented.

Key points

• Residents have been informed by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary.
• Almost 600 residents have been rescued after becoming stranded, the city's deputy mayor noted, with cars submerged in water in some districts.
• He informed residents to employ public transport instead of private vehicles, with the city's metro hours expanded to 02: 00 local time.
• The flooding additionally impacted air travel, with 46 planes unable to land at airports in Istanbul, BBC Turkish stated.
• Some areas of Istanbul have seen rainfall equivalent to one seventh of the annual average, according to the interior minister.

While a 34-year-old man attempting to cross the road slipped and fell, hitting his head on the pavement, a14-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted when he stepped in a puddle.

Notably, the city's governorship is investigating the death of the teenaged boy who was electrocuted.

Some areas of Istanbul have seen rainfall equivalent to one seventh of the annual average, according to the interior minister. As the rain is projected to continue, schools were ordered to close on Thursday and Friday.

While more than 8, 000 workers were responding to the flooding, nuri Aslan, deputy mayor of the city, remarked 595 residents had been evacuated to safe areas after becoming trapped.

"I urge all our citizens to remain vigilant against the expected heavy rain and storm, particularly during nighttime hours, " he wrote on X.

In practice, the flooding additionally impacted air travel, with 46 planes unable to land at airports in Istanbul, BBC Turkish stated.

For context, a car park in a shopping centre was flooded in the Sariyer district, with multiple vehicles submerged. Sections of roads in other areas collapsed, according to local media, and a river has burst its banks.

More than 16 million individuals live in the broader Istanbul metropolitan area. The interior ministry has additionally cautioned of sudden flooding in a number of provinces.

In response, employees who are disabled, pregnant or veterans will be granted administrative leave on Thursday, unless they work in health, safety, and rainwater drainage fields, Turkish media documented. Women working in the public sector who have children under the age of eight will additionally be granted leave.

In short, two dead in Istanbul after heaviest rainfall in 84 years, governor says is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.