18.10.2026 12:31
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said that 3 people missing in the flood in Sarıyer Ayazağa are being searched for on land, at sea, and in the stream along a 17-kilometer stream line. Noting that damage assessments in Ayazağa have largely been completed and that the demolition of structures obstructing the stream rehabilitation has reached the final stage, Gül announced that TESK will transfer 80 million lira for tradespeople affected by the flood, and that 200 million lira in funding has been provided by the ministry. The Ministry of Labor also allocated an employment quota of 1,000 people.
Work continues in flood-affected areas following the severe rainfall that affected Istanbul. Governor Gül, who conducted inspections in Ayazağa, provided information on search and rescue, damage assessment, demolition, and cleaning efforts.
“WE WANT TO FIND OUR 3 FELLOW CITIZENS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”
Noting that damage assessments in Ayazağa have largely been completed, Gül said, “Search efforts continue for our three fellow citizens whom we have not yet found. We want to find them as soon as possible. Apart from that, almost all damage assessment work has been prepared and completed. Additional requests are coming in, and as they arrive, our teams go to the field and carry out damage assessments by examining them on site.”
FINAL STAGE IN THE DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES BLOCKING THE STREAM REHABILITATION
Reporting that the final stage has been reached in the demolition of structures obstructing İSKİ’s stream rehabilitation project, Gül said, “There were places that needed to be demolished, and their demolition continues. We have one building left; when we demolish it this afternoon, God willing, all the buildings that are part of İSKİ’s stream rehabilitation project and that constitute an obstacle to its implementation will have been removed.”
3 OPTIONS FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION
Noting that the Urban Transformation Directorate established an office in the region upon the instruction of the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Gül stated that citizens can transform their buildings through 3 different options: themselves, through a contractor, or through TOKİ. Gül said, “With the rain stopping, we expect and anticipate that life will largely return to normal, especially in Ayazağa; the work indicates that.”
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SHOPKEEPERS
Providing information on the support provided after the flood, Gül made the following statement:
“Last night, our Minister of Trade also shared it on his own social media: the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen said it will transfer 80 million lira to be used for the needs of our shopkeepers. Our Ministry had provided 200 million lira in funding. Our Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is already the driving force behind this work; AFAD and our Ministry of Interior are the driving force. So everyone is lending a hand. In the Workforce Adaptation Program, our Ministry of Labor had allocated a quota for 1,000 people. In short, we will eliminate this problem together.”
THE MISSING ARE BEING SEARCHED FOR ALONG A 17-KILOMETER LINE
Responding to the question about the areas where the missing are being searched for, Gül stated that the people being searched for in Pendik were lost in the flood in the Gebze district of Kocaeli. Gül said, “There is also a 17-kilometer stream line here. We are searching considering that they could be at any stage of it. In addition, our Coast Guard and other underwater units are searching at sea, especially in the Golden Horn. So yes, there are a few places where we are concentrating, but our searches continue along the entire 17 kilometers on land, in the river, in the stream, and at sea.”
ALMOST ALL WATER EVACUATION AND CLEANING HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Saying that water evacuation and cleaning efforts have largely been completed, Gül noted that water can accumulate again, especially in basement floors. Stating that AFAD’s coordination truck is in the region, Gül explained, “When our fellow citizens say, ‘Half a meter of water entered our house again, 30 centimeters of water entered, or five fingers of water entered, or it needs to be cleaned again,’ all teams here are at their posts and do it as requests come in. But almost all of the water and mud that formed initially has been cleaned.”
19 SHOPS, 2 RESIDENCES, AND THE STADIUM ARE BEING DEMOLISHED
Stating that after the residents in the two-apartment staff housing next to the astroturf field, which is awaiting demolition, have been relocated, the building will be demolished, Gül said the following about the structures:
“There were four basic problems there. First, it was already in the stream bed. Second, the buildings were not earthquake-resistant. Third, the places there were untitled and unlicensed. Therefore, without victimizing our fellow citizens, we carried out this demolition by also arranging places where those services could be provided in more suitable locations. In total, 16 shops here and three shops at the entrance to the neighborhood—19 shops in total—two residences, a Qur’an course, a stadium, and the stadium’s stands will all have been demolished.”
Stating that rehabilitation work has begun, starting from the forest side, to clear trees, sediment, and narrowings in the stream, Gül noted that work on rebuilding the stadium in another area will become clear next week.
THE SCHOOL’S SITUATION IS BEING EVALUATED
To the question about the school near the structures in the stream bed, Gül replied, “There is a project here, İSKİ’s rehabilitation project. The project’s bed is clear, where it will run is clear, and how it will be done is clear. Therefore, the school does not remain in between. But our colleagues are also carrying out that work. In order to do better, we are looking at all alternatives from the perspective of all institutions and the neighborhood.”
STREAMS OVERFLOWED IN ŞİLE, NO LOSS OF LIFE
Stating that streams overflowed and flooding occurred in Şile after heavy rainfall, Gül reported that a significant portion of the teams was directed to the district during the night. Gül said, “There is no loss of life, no one stranded, or any similar negative situation. Therefore, we will wait for the stream flood to pass and then carry out work related to damage assessment and preventing a similar flood from happening again.”