Istanbul has been hit by what its governor describes as the heaviest rainfall in 84 years. Two people have died: a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted after stepping in a puddle, and a 34-year-old man who slipped while crossing the road.
Nearly 600 people who were stranded have been rescued, and more than 8,000 workers are responding to the flooding. Some areas have seen rainfall equal to around a seventh of the annual average. Schools were ordered to close on Thursday and Friday, and residents have been told to avoid leaving home unless absolutely necessary.
The city has extended metro hours to 02:00 and is encouraging people to use public transport. The flooding also disrupted air travel, with dozens of planes unable to land at the city's airports.
Source: BBC News, 15 October 2026