At least two people have been killed in severe flooding in Istanbul after torrential rain on Wednesday night inundated homes, businesses, roads and underpasses, stranding vehicles and causing widespread traffic disruption in Turkey's largest city.
Rescuers worked through the night to save hundreds of people trapped at their workplaces, while bystanders also assisted others. A 14-year-old was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle at a park in the Fatih district, and a 34-year-old slipped on a pavement in the Sariyer district and hit their head, according to local news reports.
Fatalities and rescue efforts
Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed a surveillance camera capturing the moment the teenage boy was electrocuted in the Balat area of Fatih. It showed him walking through puddles at the entrance of a car park before suddenly collapsing.
The Istanbul governor's office said the boy was taken to hospital unconscious but later died, and an investigation into the incident had been opened. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) received nearly 7,000 emergency reports. In one district, bystanders rescued a woman who was being swept down a street by the floodwaters, footage obtained by NTV television showed.
Record rainfall and disruption
Firefighters rescued another person trapped in a flooded basement, the report said. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said some areas had the highest amount of rain since 1985. Images showed several parked cars being swept by the floods in another neighbourhood.
The governor's office said education would be suspended for a day on Thursday, and state employees with disabilities and mothers with young children would be placed on leave. It advised residents to stay home unless travel was absolutely necessary and for people living in basement apartments to spend the night elsewhere. Motorcycles, meanwhile, were barred from traffic.
School closures and travel impact
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul added that schools would remain closed on Friday as the city deals with the aftermath. The severe weather also disrupted metro and tram services, and 43 flights attempting to land at Istanbul Airport were diverted to alternative airports.
