Heavy rain floods Istanbul, killing a 14-year-old boy and halting schools
The gist
Heavy rain flooded Istanbul, killing a 14-year-old boy and forcing schools to close Thursday.
Some areas saw their heaviest rainfall since 1985, disrupting a city of 16 million.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026Rain began in Istanbul on Tuesday evening after warnings from Turkiye's weather service.
- Oct 14, 2026Heavy downpour Wednesday night flooded homes and businesses and inundated roads and underpasses, stranding vehicles and causing traffic chaos.
- Oct 14, 2026A 14-year-old boy was electrocuted after stepping into a puddle in the Balat area of Istanbul's Fatih district; surveillance footage verified by Al Jazeera captured the moment. A 34-year-old also slipped on a sidewalk in Sariyer district and hit their head, local media reported.