The situation on the ground
Istanbul is dealing with some majorly intense weather right now. According to the city's governor, the area has just been hit by its heaviest rainfall in 84 years. It is honestly giving total disaster movie vibes, and it is pretty scary.
The human toll
Tragically, the flooding has already claimed two lives. A 14-year-old boy died after being electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle, and a 34-year-old man died after slipping on a road and hitting his head. The governor’s office is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death.
Staying safe
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül is telling everyone to stay inside unless it is an absolute emergency. Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan confirmed that nearly 600 people have had to be rescued after getting trapped by rising waters. The city has over 8,000 workers on the ground dealing with the chaos.
Schools across the city are closed through Friday, and officials are offering administrative leave for public sector employees who are pregnant, disabled, or have young children to help keep people off the streets. Air travel is also a total mess, with 46 planes unable to land at Istanbul airports.
Why it matters
With one-seventh of the city's average annual rainfall dropping in a single event, the infrastructure is clearly struggling. Rivers have burst their banks and roads have collapsed, impacting millions of people. If you are in the area, please follow local instructions and stay safe—don't risk it.
