07.12.2025 17:21
Heavy downpours have affected Istanbul. Streets and avenues in the megacity have turned into lakes. In some districts where flooding occurred, vehicles were submerged. In Sarıyer, due to the heavy rainfall, a parked pickup truck and a van fell into a stream as the road collapsed. In the same area, the overflowing waters reached the basement of a nearby restaurant, rendering the establishment unusable.
The Istanbul Governorship issued a yellow-coded meteorological warning due to the expected thunderstorms and heavy rain across the city, and since the night hours, strong rainfall has been effective in the megacity.
ROAD COLLAPSED, TWO VEHICLES FELL INTO THE STREAM
The heavy downpour that was effective in the Kilyos area of the Sarıyer district caused stream overflow and infrastructure problems. A road collapse occurred at the Kilyos Tunnel construction site built by ICA; as a result of the collapse, a pickup truck and a van were swept into the stream.
RESTAURANT FLOODED
The overflowing waters in the same area reached the basement of a nearby restaurant, rendering the business unusable. Due to the flood, meters of water accumulated in the restaurant's garden and basement. The business owner, Hakan Kaptan, stated that the situation they experienced while closing the business and going home at night caused a significant loss for them. Kaptan said, "The stream was blocked by tunnel construction, and a road was built over it. This business, which has been serving for 11 years, has been flooded for the first time. We heard an explosion sound in the basement due to electricity and cables, we were scared. Our 40 employees were confused about what to do," he said.
QUICK INTERVENTION FROM AUTHORITIES
After the incident, AFAD, fire brigade, and AKUT teams were quickly dispatched to the area. The teams began to evacuate the floodwaters from the restaurant and its surroundings and started damage assessment work. The Sarıyer District Governorship and relevant ministry officials announced that they would send a team to the area for inspections at the business.
50.8 KILOGRAM OF RAINFALL IN SARIYER
Meanwhile, according to meteorological data, it was learned that the highest rainfall in Istanbul in the last 24 hours was recorded in Sarıyer with 50.8 kilograms per square meter, as measured at 06:00 on December 7. Beykoz followed Sarıyer with 33.5 kilograms, and Üsküdar with 32.2 kilograms. In the Istanbul Airport area, 30.2 kilograms, in Bakırköy 29.2 kilograms, and in Ümraniye and Üsküdar, 23 kilograms of rainfall were recorded.
It was noted that 22.2 kilograms of rainfall fell in the Terkos Dam, and 5.1 kilograms in the Ömerli Dam. The districts with the least rainfall in the city were Pendik with 2.8 kilograms per square meter and Tuzla with 1.3 kilograms.
Source: DHA / İHA