16.10.2026 13:30
In Istanbul, traces of the flood have not been erased in the Ayazağa Neighborhood of Sarıyer, one of the places most affected by the downpour that broke an 84-year rainfall record. As damaged vehicles are being removed and road cleaning continues, some vehicles are waiting in mud with their windows broken. In the megacity, the death toll has risen to 4. The overflowing Kağıthane Stream submerged the historic Sadabad Mosque, while the color of the Golden Horn also turned brown.
After the downpour that hit Istanbul on October 14, life has not yet returned to normal in Sarıyer's Ayazağa neighborhood. Hundreds of vehicles swept away by the flood became unusable, while many homes and businesses were also damaged.
VEHICLES REMAINED STUCK IN MUD
In Ayazağa Neighborhood, cleanup efforts that began after the flood and the removal of damaged vehicles are continuing. Some vehicles left by the roadside are waiting with broken windows and interiors full of mud and garbage. On Wednesday, October 14, when the flood occurred, traffic congestion that came to a standstill around 17:00 continued until 23:00 at night.
BUSINESSES WERE FLOODED
Many businesses on the neighborhood's main street were flooded. Those trapped in workplaces and homes were first reached with construction machinery, and then evacuated with boats belonging to the Coast Guard Command.
AFAD, UMKE, fire brigade, Coast Guard underwater search and rescue teams, Police Search and Rescue (PAK), and police divers affiliated with the Sea Port Branch Directorate rescued many people through operations that continued throughout the night.
A pizzeria near a parking lot that filled with water in about 5 minutes also became unusable. The business owner said, “When a flood suddenly occurred here, my staff escaped from here almost by swimming for their lives.”
SHOPKEEPERS ARE CLEANING THE MUD
In the morning hours after the flood, shopkeepers who reopened their businesses began cleaning the mud that had filled their shops. Teams are also working to open drains and drain the accumulated water.
THEY WERE LEFT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS
In the neighborhood, residents were left without electricity and natural gas until noon on October 15. Due to the flood, markets and bakeries in the neighborhood were also unable to open.
SWEPT AWAY BY WATER AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE CURB
Samet Yetkin (34), one of the 3 people who died in the flood, lost his balance while trying to step from the sidewalk onto the road in Ayazağa. Yetkin, who was swept away by floodwaters, hit his head on the curb. Yetkin, who was pulled from the water by nearby citizens, could not be saved despite interventions at the hospital where he was taken. In the flood, a 14-year-old child also died after being electrocuted in the water.
STREETS AND AVENUES WERE SUBMERGED IN BEYKOZ
One of the districts most affected by the downpour was Beykoz. According to data from the Istanbul Governor's Office, the highest rainfall was measured in Ömerli, connected to Beykoz, at 193.84 kilograms per square meter. Many avenues and streets in the district were submerged in floodwaters. On Akbaba Avenue, the road was covered with muddy water after a manhole overflowed, and drivers had difficulty moving forward. Many cars left underwater became unusable.
THEY WERE TRAPPED IN VEHICLES
Due to rising waters, some drivers were trapped in their vehicles, while others left their vehicles and got out of the water. Fire brigade and police teams dispatched to the area safely rescued those trapped.
WALLS COLLAPSED, BUILDING EVACUATED
In Beykoz Çamlıbahçe, 2 people were injured when a garden wall collapsed. In Tokatköy, the side walls of the bridge over Çamlıbahçe Stream collapsed, and the stream water turned brown with mud. In Gümüşsuyu, a retaining wall in front of a 3-story building on Sipahi Street collapsed, and the building was evacuated as a precaution.
HISTORIC SADABAD MOSQUE WAS SUBMERGED
The Kağıthane Stream, which overflowed due to the downpour, also submerged the historic Sadabad Mosque in Kağıthane.
While the interior and garden of the mosque filled with water, the lower part of the minbar was submerged. The Sedef Workshop next to the mosque was also affected by the overflow.
THE GOLDEN HORN TURNED BROWN
The effects of the flood were seen not only in neighborhoods but also at sea. Due to mud carried by floodwaters, the color of the Golden Horn turned brown on October 15.
Moments when the Golden Horn was completely muddied were captured from the air by drone. In some coastal parts of the Bosphorus, the sea water was also seen turning brown.
WARNING FOR SATURDAY
Deputy Director General of Meteorology Yüksel Yağan said that on Friday, with the effect of southerly winds, rainfall will start again and will be stronger in northern districts such as Arnavutköy and Beykoz.
Noting that rainfall is expected to strengthen from the early hours of Saturday, Yağan said, “We recommend that our citizens be a little more careful on Saturday during the next three-day period.” Rainfall is also expected to be effective along the coasts of Kırklareli and Tekirdağ.
COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE NOTIFICATION MUST BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS
Among vehicles damaged in the flood, those that cannot be repaired will be classified as total losses.
Flood damage must be reported to the insurance company within 5 days and the appraisal process must be initiated.
It was stated that there are 4 different types of comprehensive insurance—limited, standard, extended, and full—and that it should be checked whether flood and water damage coverage is included in the policy. Vehicle owners who do not have comprehensive insurance or flood coverage can claim compensation from the relevant administration by alleging “service fault” on grounds such as lack of infrastructure. However, it was stated that this process can take years.
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