Severe thunderstorms swept across Istanbul on Saturday, triggering widespread flash flooding that submerged roads, stranded motorists and disrupted transportation across both the European and Asian sides of Türkiye's largest city.
The downpour arrived after the Turkish State Meteorological Service issued yellow-level warnings for locally intense thunderstorms.
Although the heaviest rain lasted less than an hour in many areas, it was enough to overwhelm drainage systems, flood homes and businesses, and paralyze traffic in several districts.
The European side bore the brunt of the storm, with Beşiktaş, Şişli, Kağıthane, Sultangazi, Fatih and Bakırköy among the hardest-hit districts. On the Asian side, heavy rain also affected Ümraniye, Çekmeköy, Kadıköy, Beykoz and Üsküdar.
Roads submerged
