Two dead as Istanbul endures heaviest rainfall in 80 years

Istanbul faced its heaviest rainfall in over 80 years, leading to severe flooding and resulting in two fatalities. The intense downpour began on Wednesday morning and persisted throughout the day, causing widespread chaos and flash floods. Footage captured cars being dragged by water and residents being rescued through windows. The governor confirmed that one victim was a 14-year-old boy who died after stepping into a puddle in the Balat area.

Three others were hospitalized but did not survive. Schools in the city were closed for a week, and authorities advised people to stay indoors unless essential. Transportation disruptions included 43 flights diverted from Istanbul Airport and three flights suspended at Sabiha Gokcen Airport due to strong winds. Turkey's disaster agency set up a crisis desk to handle the crisis, which saw 43 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, 47 stranded individuals, and two roofs destroyed by the heavy rains, with the downpour expected to continue over the weekend.