Daijiworld Media Network – Istanbul
Istanbul, Oct 15: A 14-year-old boy died after being electrocuted in floodwaters as torrential rain battered Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city, inundating hundreds of homes and businesses, damaging roads and bringing traffic to a near standstill.
Surveillance footage verified by Al Jazeera reportedly captured the moment the teenager collapsed after stepping into a puddle in the Balat area of Istanbul's Fatih district during heavy rain. The boy was seen walking through water near the entrance of a car park before suddenly falling to the ground.
According to the Istanbul governor's office, the boy was taken to hospital in an unconscious state but died despite efforts to save him. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul urged residents to remain indoors on Thursday unless travel was essential. He also advised people living in basement apartments to spend the night on higher floors and warned residents to stay away from creek beds, underpasses and other areas vulnerable to flooding.
The authorities suspended classes across Istanbul for Thursday and prohibited motorcycles from using the roads amid the severe weather, the Associated Press reported. State employees with disabilities and mothers with young children were also granted leave. The motorcycle ban came into effect at 9 pm on Wednesday and will remain in force until further notice.
Türkiye's Interior Ministry issued warnings about the risk of sudden flooding in several provinces on Wednesday and Thursday. Emergency teams were deployed across Istanbul, a city of approximately 16 million people, as the situation deteriorated. According to Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, around 8,000 personnel, supported by 2,000 vehicles and construction machines, were mobilised to respond to the emergency.
The rainfall began on Tuesday evening following warnings issued by Türkiye's meteorological service. Several districts were affected as floodwaters submerged roads and underpasses, leaving vehicles stranded in areas including Esenyurt and Sultangazi. Water also entered homes, shops and basement premises, causing widespread disruption.
Emergency services received more than 2,500 reports of weather-related incidents, Daily Sabah reported. Authorities recorded 1,277 flooding incidents and 15 landslides, while 47 people were reported stranded. More than 800 homes, 280 businesses and 76 vehicles were affected by the flooding.
Sections of roads collapsed in the Eyupsultan and Gaziosmanpasa districts, according to the Turkish news website Türkiye Today. Local media also reported that passersby rescued a woman after floodwaters swept her away in Istanbul's Esenyurt district.
The flooding affected several neighbourhoods, with roads submerged, vehicles trapped and residential and commercial properties inundated. Water reportedly reached two hospitals, while floodwater poured through the ceiling of the Haciosman metro station, raising concerns over the impact on essential infrastructure.
In Sultangazi, the retaining wall of a primary school collapsed while students were inside their classrooms. No injuries were reported among the students.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the Omerli area of Beykoz, on Istanbul's Asian side, where nearly 194 mm of rain fell, Daily Sabah reported. Acting Istanbul Mayor Nuri Aslan said some parts of the city had received nearly 100 mm of rainfall within 12 hours.
The downpour also severely affected traffic across the city. Traffic density reportedly reached around 90 per cent during the evening rush hour as waterlogged roads and stranded vehicles disrupted movement. Despite the widespread flooding, flights were operating normally, according to Daily Sabah.
Authorities continued to monitor the situation and urged residents to follow safety advisories as emergency teams responded to flooding, landslides and damage to infrastructure across Istanbul.