04.07.2026 22:30
After warnings from meteorology and AKOM, the heavy downpour that hit Istanbul turned streets into lakes and paralyzed traffic, while moments in Çekmeköy where motorcycle couriers, swept away by overflowing floodwaters, risked their lives to save their motorcycles by fighting the current were captured on camera.
Following the warnings issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology and the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), the expected heavy downpour has taken the megacity hostage. The sudden thunderstorm that intensified in a short time during the day brought life in Istanbul almost to a halt.
STREETS FLOODED, COURIERS NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH
With the onset of the rain, infrastructure deficiencies resurfaced; large puddles formed on many central streets, avenues, and squares of the city. Drivers struggled to navigate roads that turned into lakes, while traffic on main arteries and connecting roads became gridlocked at very early hours. Long queues formed due to vehicles having difficulty moving.
One of the heaviest tolls of the downpour occurred on the Anatolian Side. In the Çekmeköy district, floodwaters turning streets into rivers caused nightmares for motorcycle couriers making deliveries. Swept away by the strong current, the couriers dismounted their motorcycles and fought against the waters to avoid being dragged away.
HE RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE HIS LIVELIHOOD
In the moments of terror recorded second by second by mobile phone cameras, a motorcycle courier was seen risking his own life by running after the current to save his motorcycle, which was swept away for meters by the floodwaters.