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Istanbul Floods: Heaviest Rain Since 1942
In brief
Flash floods across Istanbul have killed at least five people and searches continue for about five more who are missing, after what the city’s governor called its heaviest rainfall since 1942. Turkish outlet Bianet reported the latest toll on Friday, October 16, 2026; earlier counts from the BBC and AP were lower as the search went on.
What happened?
Heavy rain that began late on October 13 flooded streets on both the European and Asian sides of the city, hitting northern districts such as Sarıyer hardest, Bianet reported. Cars were submerged in a shopping-centre car park, sections of road collapsed and a river burst its banks, the BBC reported. Some areas received about one seventh of their normal annual rainfall, according to the interior minister.
Governor Davut Gül said emergency crews had rescued about 3,050 people who were stranded and that no one was still waiting for rescue. Schools were closed on Thursday and Friday, flights were disrupted, and officials asked people to use public transport and stay home where possible.
Damage and water supply
The Insurance Association of Turkey said insurers had received 838 flood and water-damage claims in Istanbul by October 15, and warned the figure would grow. The rain did lift the city’s low reservoirs: average occupancy rose from about 38% to 45% in a single day, according to the city water utility. To compare rainfall figures in different units, try our unit converter. This is a news summary based on the sources below; figures may change as searches continue.
Why it matters
More than 16 million people live in the Istanbul area, and the floods show how quickly extreme rain can overwhelm a big city’s drains and roads.
Related free tools: Unit Converter
Sources
- Bianet: Death toll from İstanbul floods rises to five, several others reported missing
- BBC News: Two dead in Istanbul after heaviest rainfall in 84 years, governor says
- AP News: Istanbul faces worst flooding since 1942 as death toll reaches 4
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