20.10.2026 14:32
The flood that was effective in Istanbul last week submerged businesses around Cendere Creek in Ayazağa and Kemerburgaz. While one business reported 15 million lira in damage, tradespeople argued that the creek bed had been narrowed in the section where the TV8 building is located and that the flood had therefore grown, and demanded that the construction be investigated.
After the flood disaster that affected Istanbul last week, the extent of the damage in Ayazağa Neighborhood and Kemerburgaz Street has come to light. Due to the flood that was effective around Cendere Stream, many homes and businesses were submerged, while the claims by tradesmen who suffered millions of liras in damage that the large buildings constructed on the stream bed narrowed the stream bed drew attention. The tradesmen whose warehouses, machines and workplaces were damaged said they were waiting for help from the authorities and called for an investigation into the construction along the stream route.
After the flood disaster experienced in Istanbul last week, the remaining damage was captured from the air. While homes and businesses affected by the flood along Cendere Stream and Kemerburgaz Street were filmed by drone, the destruction caused by the flood in the businesses in the area was revealed. While the tradesmen whose workplaces were flooded with mud and water continue cleaning work with their own means, it was stated that in many businesses vehicles, machines and materials in warehouses became unusable.
TRADESMEN POINT TO THE TV8 BUILDING
Cihan Kendirci, who operates in the recycling sector, stated that his warehouse was completely submerged and said he lost most of the materials he earns his living from. Kendirci said, "We earn our bread through the recycling business. Right now we are really in a difficult situation. They built unnecessary buildings in unnecessary places. We are all paying the price together. Because TV8 is on the stream, that area was also submerged. They should be on higher ground. Because the necessary work was not done in time, now everyone is paying the same bill, unfortunately," he said.
Stating that they sell recycling materials weekly, Kendirci noted that after the flood they became unable to do business, and said, "Right now we have neither materials left to sell nor work left. We are trying to sustain our lives in a difficult situation."
15 MILLION LIRA IN DAMAGE
Abdullah Avcı, who works in the same sector, also stated that the flood caused great damage to their vehicles, machines and workplace, and asked the authorities for support. Arguing that they were told work would be done for the stream but that they did not see sufficient work, Avcı said he thought the construction in the area where TV8 is located was effective in the flood.
Avcı said, "We experienced a major disaster. Our vehicles, machines and shop were submerged because of the flood. We are very victimized; we are asking the authorities for help. They said they were doing stream work, but they did not do any. They keep building buildings. They constantly erect buildings along the stream next to TV8. That is why these places filled and overflowed. It burst everywhere."
Stating that the machines, offices and business offices at the workplace were damaged, Avcı said, "We have damage of approximately 15 million liras. We did the cleaning work with our own efforts; we cleaned the mud. We brought water from outside to wash. The electricity was cut off; we could not do any work. No one helped us. Everyone came and went here, but no one stopped by us."
Muhammet Çelikel, who operates in the organization sector, also stated that their workplaces suffered great damage due to the flood. Drawing attention to the claims that there was a narrowing in the stream bed in the area where TV8 is located, Çelikel said that the surrounding businesses suffered severe damage after the flood.
Çelikel said, "We do organization work. As you can see, we are flood victims. Everywhere is a mess. Because of the narrowing done there by TV8, the water burst and went. We are doing cleaning work; we started from outside, but which one should we clean? Everywhere is a mess. We request that our damage be identified and compensated as soon as possible by the authorities."
DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION OF CONSTRUCTION
After the flood, the tradesmen struggling to reopen their businesses demanded compensation for their financial losses and the taking of necessary measures in the area. The tradesmen requested a technical investigation, especially into the claims that the stream bed was narrowed in the construction around Cendere Stream and in the section where the TV8 building is located.
Seeking to determine the causes of the flood in the area, the tradesmen called for the necessary work to be done along the stream route so that similar disasters do not happen again.