Torrential downpour in Turkey triggers deadly flooding
On Saturday, Aug. 17, torrential downpours assaulted Istanbul, Turkey, resulting in deadly flooding. Multiple buildings in the historic Grand Bazaar became inundated, and a homeless man was found dead among the water.
A torrential downpour inundated Istanbul, Turkey, and other northwestern cities of the country on Saturday, Aug. 17, resulting in the death of at least one person. The torrential downpour produced 110 mm (4.33 inches).
The rain started to fall around noon local time, tapering off around 6 p.m., according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis. The downpour came just a few days after a heat wave that brought temperatures about 4 degrees Celsius (6 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. There had been previous flash flood warnings over the past few days, according to the Turkish news outlet Daily Sabah.
Lower and seafront areas of the city reported flash floods, according to the news source. It also reports that the pedestrian underpass in Eminönü Square was filled with flood waters, severely damaging the shops inside.
Heavy downpours inundated Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday, August 17, flooding the Eminonu Underpass and damaging merchandise from stores. (Twitter/@byzantinologue)
Videos from euronews show shopkeepers trying to save their merchandise from the nearly waist-deep floodwaters that had filled the Grand Bazaar, a 558-year-old complex. Another video shows torrential river from rain water sweeping through an old town street, tearing a cobblestone up from the road.
According to government officials, the body of a homeless man under the Unkapanı Bridge during draining operations. No other fatalities or injuries have been reported at this time.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu tweeted that Istanbul had been receiving rainfall above the seasonal norms as it had for many years. The average amount of rainfall for the month of August is 23.6 millimeters (0.9 of an inch).
The storm also brought cancellations to ferry services and caused the Kabataş-Bağcılar trams to temporarily suspended services due to flooded tracks, according to the Daily Sabah. Services have since resumed.
"The storm that brought the heavy downpours to Istanbul will move away from Turkey, allowing for dry conditions and sunshine for both Sunday and Monday," Travis said.
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