18.10.2026 07:20
In Istanbul's Pendik, floodwaters from a stream that overflowed due to heavy downpour swept away a car containing 3 people; one person was rescued while 2 people went missing. Teams have launched search operations at 3 different locations to find the 2 people missing in the floodwaters.
Heavy rain that was effective in Istanbul caused flooding in Göçbeyli Neighborhood of Pendik. As a result of the stream passing through the neighborhood overflowing, a car containing 3 people was swept away by floodwaters.
2 PEOPLE IN THE CAR DISAPPEARED
Due to the downpour that started in the evening hours and increased its effect throughout the night, Büyük Creek (Göçbeyli Stream) overflowed. At that time, 3 people in the car with license plate 34 HER 50 were caught in the current. While M.D.E. in the vehicle managed to escape by their own means, D.A. and F.D. disappeared in the floodwaters.
M.D.E., who was taken to a safe area with the help of nearby citizens, was taken to the hospital by ambulance after the first intervention by medical teams.
TEAMS STARTED SEARCHING AT 3 DIFFERENT POINTS
Upon notice, Underwater Search and Rescue (SAK), AKUT, AFAD, fire brigade and gendarmerie teams were dispatched to the area. While it was assessed that the 2 missing people and the car may have been dragged by the current, teams started simultaneous search work at three different points.
Because the incident occurred on the Istanbul-Kocaeli provincial border, Gebze Municipality Search and Rescue (GEAK) and Çayırova Municipality Search and Rescue (ÇAK) teams also joined the search efforts.
"THEY BROKE THE WINDOW AND GOT OUT"
Ahmet Özyurt, the mukhtar of Kadıllı Neighborhood in Gebze, stated that the incident occurred between Kadıllı and Göçbeyli neighborhoods and recounted what the surviving person experienced.
Özyurt said, "What the slightly injured person told us was as follows: After being dragged in the water in the car for about 100 or 150 meters, they said they broke the window and got out. The surviving person said they got out of the water by holding onto a branch. The flow rate of the stream is very high. In terms of location, the place where the incident happened is exactly the border of the two cities. The waters of the stream go to Ömerli Dam. Teams brought a drone and conducted a search, but so far there has been no development."
SEARCH WORK CONTINUES
In the area, the high flow rate of the stream and adverse weather conditions make search efforts difficult, while teams continue working to reach the 2 missing people.