October 2026 Istanbul floods

The October 2026 Istanbul floods were floods in Turkey caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall in Istanbul, beginning on 14 October 2026. These flash floods inundated roads, underpasses, houses and businesses, and vehicles were swept away by floodwater. The heavy rainfall also affected other parts of the Marmara Region, including the neighbouring provinces of Kocaeli and Sakarya.

As of 19 October, the Istanbul Governor's Office had confirmed six deaths in the city, with one person still missing. A flood-related death was also reported in Kocaeli on 16 October.

Rainfall and meteorological conditions

Heavy rain affected Istanbul on 13–15 October, intensifying during 14 October. The city's Disaster Coordination Centre (AKOM) reported a maximum accumulated rainfall of 277.1 mm at Beykoz during the weather system, while Turkey's interior minister Mustafa Çiftçi separately reported localized rainfall of up to 272 mm. These are figures reported by different authorities; neither is a citywide average.

Citing measurements by the Turkish State Meteorological Service, the Chamber of Meteorological Engineers reported 186.3 mm of rainfall in Beykoz, 159.4 mm in Maslak and 132.2 mm in Sarıyer in the 24-hour interval from 09:00 on 14 October to 09:00 on 15 October. The chamber distinguished these fixed-interval observations from wider rainfall totals and stressed the importance of considering the duration, location and intensity of rainfall when assessing urban flood risk.

Istanbul governor Davut Gül described the rainfall as the city's heaviest since 1942, an assessment reported by international news agencies. Meteorologist Mikdat Kadıoğlu of Istanbul Technical University attributed the intense rainfall to the interaction of cold air arriving from the Balkans, moisture transported by northeasterly winds and comparatively warm Black Sea waters.

Flooding and disruption

Flooding was reported in multiple districts, particularly in northern parts of Istanbul. Floodwater entered homes and shops, inundated roads and underpasses, and washed parked vehicles through streets in the Ayazağa neighbourhood of Sarıyer. There were also floods in the vicinity of the Kağıthane stream. Electricity and water supplies were interrupted in some neighbourhoods.

The floods disrupted road and air transport. On 15 October, Istanbul governor's office figures cited in the press indicated that 51 flights had been diverted from Istanbul Airport and 19 cancelled. Some roads remained closed, and motorcycle traffic was temporarily restricted. Istanbul's schools were closed on 15 and 16 October.

On 14 October, the governor's office received reports including 1,277 incidents of flooding, 15 landslides and 47 cases of people becoming stranded, according to figures reproduced by the Chamber of Meteorological Engineers. By 16 October, Interior Minister Çiftçi reported 9,850 reports relating to flood damage and other incidents; he said approximately 46,000 personnel were engaged in response and cleanup operations.

Casualties and emergency response

Initial reports on 15 October recorded three deaths, including that of a 14-year-old who was electrocuted after stepping into floodwater in the Fatih district. The body of another victim was recovered near a park in Kağıthane. The reported death toll increased as searches continued. On 18 October, police recovered the body of a man from the Golden Horn; Anadolu Agency reported that this brought the death toll in Istanbul to five, with two people still missing. On 19 October, the body of Haşim Ciritlioğlu was found near Ayvansaray ferry pier on the Golden Horn, bringing the Istanbul death toll to six; searches continued for one missing person.

Emergency crews rescued or evacuated stranded residents from flooded properties, streets and workplaces. The Associated Press reported that more than 3,000 people were evacuated in Istanbul. Officials called on residents to avoid unnecessary travel and, during the heaviest rainfall, advised those living in basement accommodation to move to higher floors.

Effects in neighbouring provinces

Heavy rainfall also affected Kocaeli and Sakarya. A two-storey building constructed on a riverbed in Sakarya collapsed after it had been evacuated, according to contemporary reporting. In Kocaeli, search teams recovered the body of a man who had been reported missing after heavy rainfall in Başiskele district; the body was found on 16 October in the Gulf of İzmit. In a separate incident near Gebze on 17 October, two men were swept away when their vehicle entered a flooded stream. Their bodies were recovered in the Pendik district of Istanbul on 18 and 19 October, respectively. Further severe-rain warnings were issued for eastern Marmara during 17–18 October.

Flood risk and urban development

See also: Wetlands of Turkey and Water supply and sanitation in Turkey

The flooding prompted discussion of the effects of urban development on Istanbul's drainage and waterways. Specialists cited the restriction of stream channels, development on floodplains and extensive impermeable surfaces as factors that can increase flood damage during heavy rainfall. The Chamber of Meteorological Engineers said that, while climate change can affect the intensity and probability of extreme precipitation, establishing its contribution to an individual event requires analysis of longer-term observations and comparable past events.

References

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