Turkish authorities announced on Thursday the death of two people and the evacuation of dozens due to heavy rains and accompanying floods that struck the city of Istanbul over the past two days.
The Anadolu Agency reported that Istanbul Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Altinsoy said emergency teams received 8,515 reports since the rainfall began, and managed to evacuate 595 people trapped by water in their homes, workplaces, and various facilities, particularly in the Goktork, Kemerburgaz, and Ayaga areas.
Altinsoy noted that two people died in incidents related to the floods: one was a 34-year-old in the Sariyer district, and the other was a 14-year-old boy who died of electrocution in a water accumulation area in the Fatih district.
Record rains in 45 years
Altinsoy pointed out that the rains the city experienced over the past two days are among the heaviest in recent years, with precipitation reaching 273.1 kilograms per square meter in the Beykoz area, 208.1 kilograms in Sariyer, and 202.8 kilograms in Eyup Sultan.
He added that these rains represent some of the highest rates recorded over the past 45 years, causing water levels in several rivers and streams to rise, and flooding streets, tunnels, homes, and commercial shops.
Disruption of services and transport
The floods also caused the closure of several main and secondary roads, disrupted traffic, cut electricity to some homes and facilities, and caused disruptions in maritime and cable car transport services.
He noted the suspension of some metro and tram trips before they resumed this morning, while authorities decided to suspend in-person education in official and private educational institutions due to weather conditions.
Local authorities predicted that the rains would gradually subside during the day, with rescue operations, water drainage, and flood damage removal continuing in affected areas.
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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