Severe storm hits Istanbul, triggers swimming bans
As Istanbul worked on July 23 to recover from the devastation left by the previous day’s severe storm, authorities were also taking precautions to prevent the adverse weather, forecast to persist through the weekend, from causing further disruptions to daily life.
Following General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM) and Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) warnings, officials enacted swimming bans due to high waves. Citing the Provincial Administration Law, authorities closed Beykoz’s Black Sea beaches from July 23 to 27, enforcing similar restrictions solely for July 23 in Arnavutköy and Sarıyer’s Kısırkaya Public Beach.
Falling cafe umbrellas slightly injured customers in Fatih’s Sarayburnu, while a flying tent piece struck one person on the Üsküdar coast, where strong southwesterly winds generated massive waves and disrupted pedestrians. Part of a flying roof also injured another person on Beyoğlu’s Örnektepe Etibank Avenue.
Winds blew off roof fragments in Bahçelievler’s Kocasinan and dropped construction materials on İstiklal Avenue, forcing security measures. Uprooted trees blocked traffic on Bakırköy’s Florya and Ümraniye’s Küçüksu avenues, crushed a car in Gaziosmanpaşa’s Yenimahalle and toppled in Zeytinburnu’s Seyitnizam Şehitler Park. Broken branches severed power lines on Sultangazi’s 2904th Street in Esentepe, cutting power.
