14.10.2026 22:10
During the downpour affecting Istanbul, at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Assembly, the words of CHP Council Member Gökhan Taneri Vural, "It has been raining cats and dogs for two hours, but there is no flooding anywhere," sparked a debate. After the reaction of the AK Party group, Vural stated that 110 kilograms of rainfall per square meter per hour fell in Arnavutköy, arguing that minor flooding was not a problem and that the İBB was working.
In the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Council, CHP Council Member Gökhan Taneri Vural's claim that no floods occurred in the city due to the downpour that was effective today caused debate.
The third session of the İBB Council's October meetings was held under the chairmanship of Council 2nd Deputy Speaker Gencay Özcan at the municipality's Presidency building in Saraçhane.
DOWNPOUR REMARK IN OFF-AGENDA SPEECH
CHP Council Member Vural, who took the floor to make an off-agenda speech in the Council, spoke about the environment and mentioned the climate crisis.
Vural, stating that climate is not only related to the environment and the world, said that politics also has a climate.
Vural, expressing that they are in the hall as council members for whom Istanbulites voted and whom they elected, stated that they are in a sacred place where decisions are made to serve Istanbulites and enable them to live better.
Pointing out that better politics should be conducted and attention should be paid to tone, Vural said, "It has been raining cats and dogs outside for two hours. Friends say, 'We couldn't walk to the parking lot,' but there is no flood anywhere."
The AK Party group attending the meeting in the Council reacted to Vural's words.
THEY ARE NOT FLOODS
Vural then continued his speech as follows:
"Those are not floods. When we think of Üsküdar, friends were walking in water up to their waists. Let's look together right now from here at Üsküdar Square on camera, is there anything? Ayamama Creek is there. Please go there and look, is there anything? Yes, it is raining abnormally. I took notes from İSKİ. In Arnavutköy, 110 kilograms of rain per square meter fell in an hour. Does such a thing happen? Terrifying. I spoke on the phone with the Beykoz İSKİ Manager. There are a few house floods; he mentions around 80 kilograms. Right now there is a disaster outside, but there is no one walking around waist-deep (in the rain) like at Üsküdar Square. So these institutions are working. İBB is working, has worked, has prepared."
Vural, stating that minor floods are not a problem, added that major disasters are no longer experienced in the city.