Heavy rain kills at least three in Istanbul
The Turkish metropolis saw exceptionally heavy rain, bringing public life largely to a standstill.
Follow-up to: Two dead after heavy rain in Istanbul Thursday, 15 October 2026, 05:58
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Heavy rainfall caused flooding and major traffic problems in Istanbul. According to the governor, at least three people have died and four others are missing.
The showers began on Wednesday evening and continued intermittently on Thursday. Roads, tunnels, homes and businesses were flooded. Hundreds of people became stranded at work or on their way somewhere; according to the Turkish authorities, more than 2,700 people were evacuated.
According to reports, the victims were in different parts of the city. The governor also reported four missing people. Turkey’s Justice Minister said on Thursday that a judicial investigation had been launched into the events and possible failure or negligence.
Schools remained closed across the province on Thursday. Certain groups of civil servants were also granted leave from work, and motorcycles were temporarily banned from the roads. The authorities urged residents to travel only if necessary.
The amount of rainfall was exceptional. The meteorological laboratory of Boğaziçi University measured 129.6 millimetres of rainfall at one station in a single day. According to the institute, that was the second-highest daily total since measurements began in 1911.
The precise extent of the damage has not yet been established. The death toll may also change as rescue services continue searching for missing people. Reports on the number of victims varied on Thursday; that is why this article uses the minimum of three deaths reported by AP.
More rain cannot be ruled out in the coming days. The events have once again put Istanbul’s vulnerability to short, extremely heavy showers on the agenda. Whether the damage was caused mainly by the rainfall, the city’s drainage system or locally neglected maintenance will have to emerge from the announced investigation.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The rain caused flooding, evacuations and traffic problems.
- Turkey’s Justice Minister announced a judicial investigation.
- The amount of rainfall was among the highest in the historical measurement series.
Left
Arguments The government must invest heavily in public infrastructure, drainage and climate adaptation, even if that is costly in the short term.
Values Protecting residents, public services and climate justice.
Consequences From this perspective, delays increase the risks for vulnerable neighbourhoods and households.
Centre
Arguments It must first be independently established what role extreme rainfall, spatial planning and maintenance each played.
Values Expertise, proportionality and reliable decision-making.
Consequences Targeted measures may be more effective than broad investments without a clear risk analysis.
Right
Arguments Officials should focus above all on ensuring proper maintenance, enforcing building regulations and providing a rapid crisis response.
Values Responsibility, order and efficient use of taxpayers’ money.
Consequences From this perspective, an investigation into concrete negligence could lead to improvements more quickly than general climate programmes.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based on current reporting by AP and Turkish government agencies. It explicitly distinguishes between confirmed facts and figures that remain uncertain.
- confirmed Heavy rain caused flooding in Istanbul. — Reported by AP and Anadolu Agency. source
- confirmed According to AP, at least three people died and four people are missing. — AP bases this on the governor of Istanbul. source
- confirmed The 129.6 millimetres of rain was the second-highest daily total since 1911. — Anadolu Agency cites the meteorological laboratory of Boğaziçi University. source
Editor's note
The flooding and fatalities were confirmed by AP and Turkish government sources. The exact death toll and cause of the damage are not yet definitive.Sources
- Heavy rain shuts down Istanbul, causing flooding and 3 deaths — Associated Press
- Adli soruşturma başlatıldı na de overstromingen in Istanbul — Turks ministerie van Justitie
- Istanbul meet uitzonderlijk hoge dagelijkse regenval — Anadolu Agency
The story so far
- Thursday, 15 October 2026, 05:58 Two dead after heavy rain in Istanbul
- Thursday, 15 October 2026, 20:09 Heavy rain kills at least three in Istanbul (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „istanbul overstromingen”
- de Volkskrant — „istanbul overstromingen”
- RTL Nieuws — „istanbul overstromingen”