Istanbul Records Deadliest Flooding in Eight Decades

Istanbul faces its most severe flooding in over 80 years, leaving four dead. Turkish officials assess the damage after record-breaking rainfall hit the city.

Editorial Desk

October 16, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Istanbul, Turkey — Turkish authorities confirmed that at least four individuals have lost their lives following a period of catastrophic flooding that ranks as the most severe weather event to strike Istanbul in more than 80 years.

The nation’s interior minister announced the rising death toll on Friday. Among the victims, the body of a 66-year-old man was discovered beneath a bridge within the city.

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Istanbul, which serves as Turkey’s largest urban center and is home to 16 million residents, experienced an unprecedented deluge. The city recorded more rainfall in the 48-hour period ending Thursday morning than the combined average for the region.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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